Alleged child porn ringleader innocent, writer claims : Cancrime

The allegation that Arthur Sayler (above), a Canadian living in Mexico, is a key figure in a continental child pornography ring, is "plain false," according to a person who claims to be Sayler's sister.

"Art is not a pedophile and is not interested in child porn let alone a ring leader for something huge," the writer states, in an email sent to me recently. The writer claims she's Karen Arbez, a Canadian sister of Sayler, who was arrested by federal police in Tijuana, Mexico in late June.

Mexican federales described Sayler as one of the most dangerous pedophiles they have ever encountered. They allege he's part of a North American child porn ring that is operating between Mexico, the United States and Canada. Police said they seized 4 million images from 15 computer hard drives in Sayler's home in Tijuana.

Arbez refused to provide any information or documentation to prove that she is who she claims or any proof to back her assertions that this is all some sort of horrible mistake. Her claims are stunning, and were sent to me unsolicited. Despite the absence of corroboration, I thought it was worth making them public, since they suggest Sayler is an innocent Canadian being persecuted in Mexico, living in squalid jail conditions, with two blankets in a six-bed cell jammed with 28 prisoners.

She claims in a second email, explaining her refusal to be interviewed, that she doesn't want any publicity because she and her family, including Sayler's parents, have been traumatized by the coverage already.

"The CTV news plastering Art’s face, name and horrendous alleged charges all over headline news across Canada just about put my father in his grave," she writes. "That was how we all found out about his arrest and with only what we read and saw in the news our family went through pure hell trying to get in touch with him."

She claims that she's worried they'll be harrassed by reporters in Canada, though she wouldn't say where they live.

Arbez suggests Sayler might not have known about the child porn found on his hard drives. She wrote that he operated a server in his home and rented space.

"It appears that someone he was renting out server space [to] was using it inappropriately to up load child porn," she states. "I do not know if Art was aware of this or not. The news, when it broke making him out to be a dangerous pedophile with over 4 million images and facing life in a Mexico City prison is just plain false."

Arbez writes that she's been to Sayler's home in Tijuana, where he lived for the past 20 years with a Spanish-speaking common-law wife, Rosa.

"Art just lived a simple life with his Mexican spouse utilizing his computer skills to make a very modest income," she writes.

She claims Sayler is an electronics technician by training who began repairing local computers. Police have claimed Sayler travelled daily to San Diego, California, to repair computers.

"He purchased many of his parts or laptops to be repaired off eBay which is why he had an address in California," Arbez wrote. "He traveled to the U.S. two or three times a week to check his mail (rarely to do any service repair in the US)."

Arbez indicated that her source of information for these claims is letters and phone calls with Sayler and his wife.

Here's the first email I received, setting out, as the writer described them, "the actual facts"

Art had been living in Tijuana with his common law spouse Rosa for about the last 20 years. He was working for Western Scientific in San Diego commuting from Tijuana in the beginning then started up a home based business in Tijuana . He is an electronics technician by trade. He started repairing laptops for locals through a friend who had a computer shop at a downtown swap meet in Tijuana . He purchased many of his parts or laptops to be repaired off EBay which is why he had an address in California . He traveled to the US 2 or 3 times a week to check his mail (rarely to do any service repair in the US .) He also had a server in his home and he rented out space to people. He did some freelance programming for jobs he could pick up and even some bookkeeping.

It appears that someone he was renting out server space was using it inappropriately to up load Child Porn. I do not know if Art was aware of this or not. The news, when it broke making him out to be a dangerous pedophile with over 4 million images and facing life in a Mexico City Prison is just plain false. While some images were found on his computer the four million, as reported, was just the capacity the server could hold. Keep in mind his office was stuffed with computer’s and parts and the Federales insinuated that it was all loaded with porn and it was not.

Art is not a Pedophile and is not interested in Child Porn let alone a ring leader for something huge. I have been to his home in Tijuana and seen his home and office and believe me there was nothing there related to any kind of child porn making. Art just lived a simple life with his Mexican spouse utilizing his computer skills to make a very modest income.

When he was arrested his wife got locked out of their home (which is in her name not Art’s name) with only the clothes on her back. To this day it is costing her thousands of dollars to try to get her house back. The Federales have it locked up and taped off as a crime scene however they have not been there since 2 weeks after Art was arrested. Neighbours phoned Art’s wife a couple of months after the arrest to let her know that they had seen persons break into her house and haul stuff out of it. She called the police regarding the break in and was told there was nothing the police could do about it because it was the federales that held it. One can only imagine what the house will be like if she ever gets it back – utilities cut off, food all rotting for months and if a window was broken for the break in what animals may be infesting it. You get the picture.

As for Art, he is in a Tijuana Jail and has not been charged with anything yet. Last week his lawyer told him that he should be able to get him out by next February. The news all stated that he was facing life in a Mexico City Prison – also not true. Art is in a 6 bed cell in Tijuana but there are currently 28 people in that cell (it was 30 a few months ago). He has 2 blankets and a little floor space.

Here's the second email I received, after asking for corroboration, documents, and a chance to interview the writer:

I received your email with your questions. The purpose of my last email was just to give you a more accurate picture of Art’s situation. The CTV news plastering Art’s face, name and horrendous alleged charges all over headline news across Canada just about put my Father in his grave. That was how we all found out about his arrest and with only what we read and saw in the news our family went through pure hell trying to get in touch with him. The Canadian consulate gave me a mailing address for Art but that letter never did get to him. It took Art almost a month after his arrest to get in touch with me because the Mexican justice system does not enable him to phone or write to family. His wife does not speak English and they did not have my phone number. Rosa (his wife) is locked out of her house without even her purse and ID etc. Art, who has never seen the inside of a jail before had to learn the inside system before he was able to get in touch with me. He gets letters to and from the family through a San Diego church group that holds a weekly church service at the prison and provides mail service for American and Canadians in Mexican prisons. I appreciate what you are willing to do if I provide you with the documentation you requested but the last thing my parents and I want is further publicity regarding Art’s case linking him to us. The damage has been done and it cannot be reversed. We do not want reporters harassing us.

My source of information is solely from letters and phone calls from Art and his wife (through a translator as she does not speak English) which is not documentation as you would require. I could easily prove I am Art’s sister but at this time I do not want my name or my parents names in any news articles about Art because we fear harassment from our local reporters.

I realize with no documentation my email does not prove anything and maybe when it is all over I will provide you all the proof you requested.

Labels: Arthur Sayler, child pornography, Tijuana