(NEW YORK, NY) -- AL Goldstein, publisher of Screw magazine, has been convicted of harassing a former secretary with obscene phone calls, editorials and commentary on a cable television show.

Prosecutors said Goldstein victimized Jennifer Lozinski by calling her "A miserable low-life" on his cable television show, printing her home address in his magazine and threatening her over the phone. The jury deliberated over three days before finding Goldstein guilty of the misdemeanor.

On the stand, Goldstein said he was angry because Lozinski had been stealing cash from his office. Goldstein demonstrated his temper when a prosecutor questioned one of his inflammatory editorials, which called for a terrorist attack on the office of District Attorney Charles Hynes.

"That's protected speech!" Goldstein yelled. "My First Amendment rights will not be squelched! How dare you!"

The tirade ended after the judge sent the jury out of the courtroom and had Goldstein handcuffed.

Goldstein faces up to a year in prison but defense attorney Charles DeStefano said he would appeal, arguing that Goldstein's rants were protected speech.

From an article by Tom Hays, Associated press writer, in Newsday, 2/27/02 (linked below)

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