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Krystof Wilsky, a retired career diplomat, traveled from his native Warsaw to Hackensack to testify in Leaf’s child sex assault trial.
In doing so, he gave a primer in online sexual deviance that clearly left some jurors in shock.
Wilsky said he used various computers in Leaf’s homes in Wyckoff, Englewood and elsewhere whenever he and his wife visited. He worked for the Polish Foreign Service at the time, attached to the Polish Mission in New York, and was on the staff of the United Nations for 20 years. The visits usually lasted about six weeks, he said.
Charles Leaf (STORY / PHOTOS: Mary K. Miraglia, CLIFFVIEW PILOT Courthouse Reporter)
“There were legitimate purposes” for using the computers, Wilsky said, “to check my bank account, my e-mail, the stock market,” and to buy books from Amazon and goods from Land’s End. He also checked flight schedules and printed boarding passes, he said.
Then, about eight years ago, he said, he began looking at child pornography – an outgrowth of his interest in adult porn.
“A pop-up came up, and I looked at it,” Wilsky testified.
The images were compelling, especially those of children ages about 10 to 12, he said. Before long, he was regularly viewing the files of children having intercourse and oral sex with one another, he said.
“I myself considered it a sickness, an addiction – like drinking. You know it’s bad for you, but you drink, no matter what,” Wilsky said.
“I didn’t masturbate or get an erection,” he added, as several jurors leaned forward, staring intently. “I became impotent very soon after I started viewing the child porn. It did not arouse me sexually. The satisfaction was basically in my mind.
”I don’t know, but I must have gotten something from it or I wouldn’t have done it.”
Prosecutors said they believed the illegal child pornography belonged to Leaf and that he tried to destroy it to avoid detection.
Wilsky, however, insisted that he was responsible.
Krystof Wilsky (STORY / PHOTOS: Mary K. Miraglia, CLIFFVIEW PILOT Courthouse Reporter)
He described a seedy world of easy access to material that is illegal in many countries — although not in Poland, where Wilsky said he could find images of children engaged in sex through a simple search.
His keyword of choice: Lolita.
The more intently Wilsky talked, the more riveted those in the courtroom became. Expressions of juros and spectators alike ranged from incredulous to disgusted.
Wilsky described how he found the sites, what they looked like, what type of content they had and how he downloaded videos and other images on Leaf’s computers.
“One site might have 1,000 to 2,000 pictures,” he said, “another: one.”
Besides images of actual children, Wilsky said, he like Japanese anime, too. One site, “Lolicon,” featured “students in sex education class and they start having sex with each other,” he said.
Wilsky said Leaf eventually “caught me in the act, red-handed.”
“He was extremely, very, very upset,” he testified. “He told me it was illegal and I had compromised his computer. He was very very angry, he called me names.
“I wouldn’t call it an argument, because I didn’t argue back. I was listening and trying to explain myself,” Wilsky said. “He wasn’t happy with my explanations.”
Charles Leaf with defense attorney S. Emile Lisboa (STORY / PHOTOS: Mary K. Miraglia, CLIFFVIEW PILOT Courthouse Reporter)
Wilsky said he gave Leaf $1,000 to buy a new computer. But he said didn’t stop looking at child porn.
For awhile, Leaf didn’t allow his father-in-law computer use in his home. He later logged on for him, Wilsky said.
Eventually, he regained unlimited use — and returned to kiddie porn.
Wilsky insisted, however, that he gave up the compulsion nearly five years ago.
Leaf’s defense team contends that state authorities knew about Wilsky’s computer use but still insists the images belonged to the former TV reporter.
Under cross-examination, Assistant Prosecutor Kenneth Ralph tried to establish that Wiksly denied responsibility when a DYFS investigator contacted him in 2011.
“That is incorrect,” Wilsky told the prosecutor.
“In December 2011, Diana Rodriguez called and asked you if the porn belonged to you, and you told her it was untrue, it didn’t belong to you. Isn’t that true?” Ralph asked.
“No, that’s untrue,” Wilsky responded. “She told me my daughter said she caught me watching pornography. I told her I never, ever discussed it with Monica.
“It was the first time I knew my daughter knew about it. I do not, sir, even remember being asked ‘Does the child porn belong to you?’ ” Wilsky told Ralph. “She might have asked me that, but I doubt it.”
In fact, he said, “I didn’t really believe in much whatever her name [Rodriguez] said.”
“You didn’t believe she was a DYFS worker?” Ralph asked.
“To me, DYFS was the enemy. I was feeling that DYFS was trying to destroy my family,” Wilsky responded. “I didn’t believe her. I didn’t believe one thing she said.”
“You understand DYFS’ job is to protect children?” Ralph asked, his voice rising.
“Technically, yes,” Wilsky replied.
Superior Court Judge James J. Guida then stopped Ralph and asked Wilsky his own question: “Did you deny to Ms. Rodriguez that the child porn belonged to you?”
“It is quite possible that I did,” he replied.
The trial resumes Monday.
STORY / PHOTOS: Mary K. Miraglia, CLIFFVIEW PILOT Courthouse Reporter
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