Thomas Spota
Encyclopedia
Thomas J. Spota III is currently the District Attorney of Suffolk County, New York
. Spota was inducted into the Long Island Press
Power List Hall of Fame having been named to the Power List at least five times.
since 2001, when he defeated three-time incumbent James M. Catterson Jr. He was reelected in 2005, and again in 2009 without any major-party opposition. Spota has been active in the fight against the distribution of child pornography
over the Internet
. In 2003, Spota indicted twelve Suffolk residents who utilized, KaZaA
, a file-sharing program to spread child pornography
. As a result, Spota was called to testified before the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary
on September 9, 2003 at a hearing concerning the building on "Pornography, Technology, and Process: Problems and Solutions on Peer-to-Peer Networks." Spota recommended a new federal task force and that legislation was needed to "attack the owners and the distributors of these programs, who are reaping enormous profits.".
in Mineola. He earned degrees at Fairfield University
in Connecticut and St. John's University School of Law in Queens.
Suffolk County, New York
Suffolk County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York on the eastern portion of Long Island. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,493,350. It was named for the county of Suffolk in England, from which its earliest settlers came...
. Spota was inducted into the Long Island Press
Long Island Press
The Long Island Press is a free newsweekly serving Long Island with extensive coverage of arts and entertainment, sports, and alternative political viewpoints. The newspaper started in 2003 after its parent company, Morey Publishing, bought The Long Island Ear, which was a free bi-monthly...
Power List Hall of Fame having been named to the Power List at least five times.
District Attorney of Suffolk County
Spota has been the District AttorneyDistrict attorney
In many jurisdictions in the United States, a District Attorney is an elected or appointed government official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses. The district attorney is the highest officeholder in the jurisdiction's legal department and supervises a staff of...
since 2001, when he defeated three-time incumbent James M. Catterson Jr. He was reelected in 2005, and again in 2009 without any major-party opposition. Spota has been active in the fight against the distribution of child pornography
Child pornography
Child pornography refers to images or films and, in some cases, writings depicting sexually explicit activities involving a child...
over the Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
. In 2003, Spota indicted twelve Suffolk residents who utilized, KaZaA
Kazaa
Kazaa Media Desktop started as a peer-to-peer file sharing application using the FastTrack protocol licensed by Joltid Ltd. and operated as Kazaa by Sharman Networks...
, a file-sharing program to spread child pornography
Child pornography
Child pornography refers to images or films and, in some cases, writings depicting sexually explicit activities involving a child...
. As a result, Spota was called to testified before the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary
United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary
The United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary is a standing committee of the United States Senate, of the United States Congress. The Judiciary Committee, with 18 members, is charged with conducting hearings prior to the Senate votes on confirmation of federal judges nominated by the...
on September 9, 2003 at a hearing concerning the building on "Pornography, Technology, and Process: Problems and Solutions on Peer-to-Peer Networks." Spota recommended a new federal task force and that legislation was needed to "attack the owners and the distributors of these programs, who are reaping enormous profits.".
Law career
During the 1970s and early 1980s, Spota worked as a Suffolk prosecutor under District Attorney Patrick Henry. He then entered private law practice in Suffolk, representing clients including the Suffolk Detectives Association and other law enforcement unions.Education
Spota grew up in New Hyde Park, and graduated from Chaminade High SchoolChaminade High School
Chaminade High School is a Roman Catholic college preparatory high school for young men. Located in Mineola, New York, the school was founded in 1930 by the Society of Mary , an international Roman Catholic teaching order of priests and religious Brothers. The school is named for Father William...
in Mineola. He earned degrees at Fairfield University
Fairfield University
Fairfield University is a private, co-educational undergraduate and master's level teaching-oriented university located in Fairfield, Connecticut, in the New England region of the United States. It was founded by the Society of Jesus in 1942, and today is one of 28 member institutions of the...
in Connecticut and St. John's University School of Law in Queens.