Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Ex-homeland press aide freed on bail in Internet sex charges

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published May 5, 2006

BARTOW - A former Homeland Security Department press aide, facing charges that he sexually preyed on a Florida detective posing as a 14-year-old girl on the Internet, was released from jail on $230,000 bail Thursday.

Brian J. Doyle, 55, appeared before Circuit Judge J. Dale Durrance after being extradited Wednesday from Maryland, where he was arrested April 4. Durrance set arraignment for May 23.

Doyle of Silver Spring, Md., is accused of having sexually explicit conversations with the supposed girl, in reality an undercover Polk County sheriff's detective. The 23 felony charges include 16 counts of sending pornographic movie clips to a minor.

Doyle planned to fly back to Maryland with his attorney Thursday, Polk County sheriff's spokeswoman Carrie Rodgers said.

Speaking briefly with reporters, Doyle described his situation as very painful.

Doyle has resigned as the department's fourth-ranking press spokesman. He allegedly provided undercover Detective Sandy Scherer his government-issued office and cell phone numbers, showed off his department ID and may have used his official computer in communicating with her.

Scherer told Durrance she talked to Doyle on the phone posing as the 14-year-old girl after Doyle made initial contact with another detective on the Internet March 12.

"Very graphic descriptions were sent by Mr. Doyle ... about what he wanted to do to her sexually," Scherer said.

Doyle's attorney, Barry H. Helfand of Rockville, Md., said he would get mental health professionals to examine Doyle in preparation for his defense.

Doyle joined the government as a Civil Service employee shortly after Sept. 11, 2001.

[Last modified May 5, 2006, 02:30:26]