LAKELAND - Chris Wilson, a Web site operator from Lakeland, who also posted gruesome war shots on his site, was released from Polk County jail, where he was being held since Dec. 16.
The Second District Court of Appeal today ordered the immediate release of Wilson, jailed for continuing to operate a Web site with alleged X-rated materials while he was out on bail for obscenity charges.
Wilson was first jailed in October on 301 obscenity-related counts. He posted bond a few days later, but was jailed again after he continued to operate his Web site, which has a vulgar word in its Web address.
Walters said the court didn't state its reasons for ordering Wilson's release, but the attorney argued, among other things, that his client's rights were violated because he was jailed for posting materials that had never been ruled obscene.
The revocation of his $150,000 bail amounted to ``prior restraint'' of his free speech rights, Walters said.
A spokesman for the State Attorney's Office couldn't be immediately reached for comment.
Wilson, a former police officer, first made headlines after being accused of providing free porn to soldiers in exchange for photos that included shots of mangled bodies. But it was the sexually oriented materials on his Web site that got him into trouble, Polk sheriff's officials have said.
Wilson's attorney, Lawrence Walters of Orlando wasn't sure if Wilson would continue to operate his Web site, which he operated from his Lakeland apartment.
