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‘Pedophiles Guide’ author arrested in Colorado

DENVER - A self-published author who sparked a debate over the limits of free speech with a book that police say advocates pedophilia was arrested by Florida authorities on obscenity charges at his Colorado home on Monday.

Philip Greaves, 47, who wrote “The Pedophiles Guide to Love and Pleasure: A Child-Lover’s Code of Conduct,” was arrested without incident in Pueblo, Colorado, about 110 miles south of Denver, according to Captain Andrew McLachlan of the Pueblo police department.

Greaves made news last month when the book was posted for sale on Amazon.com, igniting outrage from child advocacy groups and law enforcement. Amazon pulled the book after a two-week controversy. There is no allegation so far that Greaves had any illegal sexual contact with children.

A Florida judge issued the arrest warrant after detectives in Winter Haven, Florida, contacted Greaves and allegedly purchased an autographed copy of the book from Greaves for $50. The book had been listed for sale at $4.79 a copy on Amazon.

“The book contains two graphic stories depicting an adult engaged in sex acts with children,” according to a statement from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office in Florida. “The book also defends, advocates, and trains adults regarding illegal sex acts between adults and children.”

Greaves was booked into the Pueblo County jail and is being held on a $15,000 bond while awaiting extradition to Florida, said Laurie Kilpatrick, spokeswoman for the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office.

Pueblo police interviewed Greaves when the flap erupted, but found no reason to detain him at that time, McLachlan told Reuters. Greaves is not a registered sex offender in Colorado and was cooperative with police, McLachlan said.