PORNO FILM FEST FOLLOWS DRUG BUST: DID COPS ORDER VIDEOS?

LAYTON, UTAH -- Narcotics agents working on a drug bust may have been busted
themselves for allegedly ordering pornographic pay-per-view movies from the
suspect's home after he was shipped to jail. Investigations are under way
into the allegations that officers ordered the movies ``Fetish,'' ``When
Boyz Meet Girls'' and ``Fashion Plate.'' Part of the probe focuses on
whether state or county officers are accused of watching the films.
``Everybody is passing the buck at this point,'' said Capt. Al Acosta with
the Utah Criminal Investigations Bureau, which had agents on the bust. ``I'm
not going to place blame . . . in my opinion, no one is beyond suspicion at
this point.'' A team of agents from the Davis Metro Narcotics Strike Force
and the state Criminal Investigations Bureau raided Jim Passarelli's home on
June 24 and arrested Passarelli and his brother Anthony.

Agents alleged that Anthony Passarelli sold cocaine to an undercover
operative and that drug paraphernalia and scales with cocaine residue were
found in his room. That, they said, was cause enough to haul them both to
the Davis County Jail, where they were booked on drug-possession charges.
Meanwhile, agents stayed behind searching for more evidence.

Jim Passarelli alleges that, while he was in jail, narcotics agents accessed
his Direct TV satellite dish and spent the evening watching hard-core
pornographic movies. He said neighbors told him the officers did not leave
until about 7 p.m. and his bill reflected three adult channels accessed
while they were there. A spokesman for Direct TV in California said such
movies cannot be pre-ordered more than five to 10 minutes in advance.

State and county agents aren't disputing that movies may have been ordered
after the brothers were in custody, but neither agency will admit its agents
were involved. ``We executed the search warrant like we were supposed to,''
said Davis County prosecutor David Cole. ``We then turned the house over to
CIB [Criminal Investigations Bureau] for the search. We're confident none of
our agents were present when the movies started.'' The Criminal
Investigations Bureau is conducting an investigation into the alleged
misconduct and the Attorney General's Office is also looking into the
matter, but neither agency has reached a conclusion. ``Somebody out there
did something inappropriate, we know that,'' Acosta said. ``If there is
wrongdoing, there will be something done in the whole matter.

Nobody's going to get away with this scot-free.'' Passarelli has obtained an
attorney who plans to sue Davis County and the state for theft and burglary.
``There was no purpose in watching the movies on his TV, even if it was not
pay-per-view and it was Mary Poppins,'' said Aric Cramer, Passarelli's
attorney. ``The issue is the reliability and integrity of whoever the agents
are,'' Cramer said. ``If they are on a bust and watch pay-per-view porno
flicks, who's to say they are not going to turn over portions of drugs they
have seized?'' Cole said he is confident Davis agents will be absolved of
any wrongdoing. Acosta said CIB could not comment any further until their
investigation is complete. If there is evidence of wrongdoing, state
internal affairs agents will be brought in to handle the matter. Anthony
Passarelli pleaded guilty to two second-degree felony counts of drug
possession and is scheduled to be sentenced next month. Jim Passarelli is
also charged with, but denies dealing drugs.

Checked-by: Don Beck