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Camcorder pirates busted recording Hannah Montana movie

15 April 2009 8:08 by James "Dela" Delahunty | 15 comments

Gerardo Arellano and his wife, Maribel Fernandez, both 32, were arrested after being caught by police officers recording the Hannah Montana film at a cinema in South Barrington. A subsequent search of the couple's home turned up 44,000 CDs and DVDs containing pirated movies, as well as DVD duplicating equipment, Assistant State's Atty. Adam Klugman said at the bail hearing.

"Apparently, he wasn't taping this for his own personal use," Klugman said. Arellano is a restaurant worker who lives with his wife, three kids and his mother. He denied that he was involved in any piracy scheme, claiming that the mountain of discs found at his home were owned by his mother.

"My mother saved all of the DVDs, CDs and videos," Arellano said. "She saves those." Authorities also found that Arellano's computer had a link to a Web site in France that sells pirated films. Cam copies of movies are the main source for pirate copies of new movies showing in theaters, according to Angela Martinez, a spokeswoman for the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA).

"People have made a business out of this, and as the camcorders get better, the quality gets better," Martinez said. "It's how most movies are stolen." Arellano has been charged with criminal use of a motion-picture facility, unlawful use of a sound-recording device, computer fraud and online sale of stolen property.

His bail has been set at $20,000. His wife was charged with criminal use of a motion-picture facility. The MPAA estimates the street value of the goods found at his home to be in around $50,000. "I was surprised when they had arrested us," Arellano said. "I didn't think I did anything really wrong." He claims he was making the recording for his kids, who are Hannah Montana fans, and that the quality was not professional.

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crowy (Senior Member) 15 April 2009 9:24
*Quote:* A subsequent search of the couple's home turned up 44,000 CDs and DVDs containing pirated movies. *Quote:* I didn't think I did anything really wrong. MAJOR ROFL!!!!!! [ + quote] This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 15 April 2009 9:42
TSRSteve (Newbie) 15 April 2009 10:20
I can't believe the man is trying to throw his own mother under the bus by accusing her of owning the discs. [ + quote]
beanos66 (Junior Member) 15 April 2009 14:18
*Originally posted by TSRSteve:* I can't believe the man is trying to throw his own mother under the bus by accusing her of owning the discs. AND he didn't take his kids to see the movie [ + quote]
ShoeBark (Junior Member) 15 April 2009 14:29
This is one of the funniest articles I have ever read. This guy DESERVES to be put in jail. [ + quote]
ak472009 (Newbie) 15 April 2009 14:29
lol denial and being dumbis the best policy if you get caught [ + quote]
Amak (Junior Member) 15 April 2009 15:56
Wow...sucks to be caught camming a movie, but a Hannah Montana movie? :\| [ + quote]
dcity (Member) 15 April 2009 18:59
...WHY...WHY...for the love of god WHY that movie... cant believe these people are actually "sad" enough to go out of their way to film a bootleg copy of such films like that... just unbelievable!!! serves em right i say for picking the most outrageous, monstrosity of a movie hollywood has probubly ever come up wiv! [ + quote]
EricCarr (Member) 15 April 2009 20:33
Guilty! Lock him up. This had got to be the funniest thing I have read. He is willing to send his own mother up the river! [ + quote]
ThePastor (Junior Member) 15 April 2009 20:47
"Hey, what 'r ya in for?" "Uhhh, I got caught filming a Hanna Montana movie." ENTIRE PRISON: "HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH" And in an unrelated edit... Someone actually purchased the word "Hanna" for advertising??? Unfortunately for them, all Blu-ray protections have been broken and BD rips can be found around the Internet, usually before the retail even hits shelves. [ + quote] This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 15 April 2009 23:57
cyprusrom (AfterDawn Addict) 16 April 2009 10:03
Idiots indeed, like everyone here said...however, they only exist because there are much bigger idiots elsewhere in the world. If someone is stupid enough to go online and *pay money* for a cam movie, Hannah-banana or the Dark Knight, it doesn't matter, then I say good for the "smarter", industrious idiot that can sell horse manure as gold. Too bad for him was not industrious enough not to get caught. [ + quote]
wdtv (Newbie) 16 April 2009 12:13
This is hilarious. The theater is 5 minutes from my home. What a bunch of idiots. [ + quote]
ivymike (Member) 16 April 2009 12:18
The arrestee does have a point in regards to picture quality. Ever try to watch a cam movie? [ + quote]
avoidz (Junior Member) 17 April 2009 9:58
Jackass... [ + quote]
ivymike (Member) 17 April 2009 10:18
Well, the people of Barrington, Illinois & South Barrington, Illinois are not known for rational or smart thinking. [ + quote]
hermes_vb (Senior Member) 17 April 2009 16:20
This guy deserves to be thrown in jail for more than one reason. Blaming his mother? C'mon. Yeah she also uses Linux. Hannah Montana? The guy will be very popular in prison. [ + quote]