'X-Treme' Motivational Speaker Faces Child Porn ChargesPOSTED: 12:56 pm EST December 5, 2005 FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- A nationally known motivational speaker is facing child pornography charges.Police in Arkansas arrested Michael Fortino -- a man who lives in Pittsburgh, but travels the world.Fortino's Web site has been shut down, but a cached version of it showcases him as a motivational speaker.He was apparently in Arkansas to give one of those speeches when he was arrested."For every one time somebody does something wrong, it takes four rights just to break even," said Fortino on a clip on his Web site.Now, police have charged him with three counts of possessing child pornography. Police said Fortino took his computer to a Best Buy store, in Fayetteville, Ark., to be repaired.Store technicians found several pictures of children engaged in sexual acts on the computer hard drive, officials said.Former President Bill Clinton once praised Fortino, and President George W. Bush has called him a role model for future generations.Fortino and his wife live in a 9,000-square-foot home on the North Side. It's known as the "mayor's mansion" because it was built back in the 1890s for the man who was then the mayor of what was called Allegheny City -- now the North Side.Neighbors and friends said they were surprised to learn of the charges against him. "That's a big shock. You would have never known that about the guy," said neighbor Sonny Johnson.Fortino has been released on bond, and will be arraigned later this month. Channel 4 Action News tried to contact Fortino, but he did not return calls. Copyright 2005 by ThePittsburghChannel. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |










