Reporter Gets House Arrest in Source Case

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Reuters) - A Rhode Island television reporter was sentenced to six months of house arrest on Thursday for refusing to reveal the source of an undercover videotape, even though the source identified himself.

Investigative journalist Jim Taricani was convicted last month of criminal contempt for not saying who leaked a surveillance videotape in an FBI corruption investigation. But after the conviction, a defense lawyer came forward and identified himself as Taricani's source.
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Still, Torres said it was important that his sentence be seen as sending a strong message that would deter reporters from behaving in a similar fashion.

"Reporters do not have complete authority to decide when sources can be kept secret," the judge said.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20041209/us_nm/rights_media_dc

Without quoting the whole set of paragraphs, it goes on to say the judge took his health into account, as he recently had a transplant.