I am a freelance investigative journalist. In 1990 I wrote
and produced the documentary "UFOs: A Need To Know" which
is still distributed nationally by Blockbuster Video. I have
been a paid consultant to Television & Radio programs here
in the United States, Sweden, Finland & Japan. My
investigative work has been featured on "Sightings", "Encounters",
the "CBS Sunday Night Movie" , " Larry King Live" and in the
independent documentaries of George Knapp and Linda Moulton Howe.
I have been investigating the cases and claims of UFO witnesses
for ten years now. As a former police officer, I investigated a
spate of over three dozen cases of livestock crime during a six
month period (1992-1993) in Fyffe, Alabama.

I have a good reputation for conducting competent investigations
and checking facts, and I'm known for reporting truthfully without
regard for where the cards fall. I am the friend of honest witnesses,
and I am the enemy of those who try to deceive the public. I have a
sometimes brash personality, but I've never been accused of lying in
my reports, whether they be associated with Law Enforcement or Broadcast
Journalism. In my opinion, reality is much more interesting than fiction
so lying is never a necessity. The truth is entertaining enough for me.
The silliness, craziness and outrageous circumstances people create, or
find themselves (and others) in is more than enough material for me to pull
from and share with everyone. I don't have much time for fantasy, trying
to keep up with reality is exhausting by itself.

Today I would like to report a situation I found myself involved in last
October, 1998. The facts stated here are true as of my personal knowledge,
and, if called as a witness, I could and would testify competently hereto:

In  approximately November, I had a film crew in Pahrump, Nevada for the
second time, the first was in April of 1999. I was not present this time,
but my associate Ted Bonnitt was. Art Bell had gone off the air
unexpectedly, and Mr. Bonnitt and I were hoping (again) to get an interview
with Art, though he (Bell) had not agreed to do so.

In mid October, 1998, I had been "online" with "Sightings On The Radio" host
Jeff Rense, who had interviewed me twice previously on his show. We
discussed the fact that Art Bell was "off the air". We didn't know "why" Art
was off the air, But Jeff told me that a private investigator was looking
into Art Bell's past. I asked Rense if he could get me the private
investigator's phone number, he said he'd try.  In the next email from Jeff,
he stated I "have to be careful with this one" which I took as a friendly
warning that I might be venturing into dangerous territory. Later in the day
Jeff called me at home and gave me the phone number of one Clay Fondren, who
he said was the private investigator. Minutes later I called the number
which was answered by a young man, who just said hello. My first clue that I
wasn't necessarily calling a licensed private investigator. I told Mr.
Fondren that Jeff Rense hads given me his phone number.

Mr. Fondren told me he had information regarding alleged activities by Art
Bell in the production of pornographic videotapes allegedly produced by Bell
and a number of other TV station employees in the Monterey/Salinas area of
California. Mr. Fondren stated  these events purportedly occurred over two
decades ago and that Asian prostitutes, some possibly minors had been
involved in these alleged filmings.   Clay Fondren further stated that Bell
had been arrested, arraigned, convicted and sentenced for these "crimes" and
Fondren supplied me with the names of about five people he claimed were
directly involved, either as witnesses or "co-defendents". Fondren went on
to give me their present whereabouts should I want to interview them. I told
Fondren that I'd be willing to personally look into these allegations
because I was trying to figure out why Art Bell had left the airwaves
unexpectedly. I didn't want to be scooped. I was immediately able to contact
two of the individuals whose names Mr. Fondren had earlier provided me.

After brief interviews via telephone, I determined that only one of the
individuals I spoke to had a "vague memory" of "something" involving Mr.
Bell, but he couldn't remember anything specific. So I contacted two other
sources I've known over the years to see if they knew anything. One is a
journalist, the other is a cop. Both of them told me the same thing, they
said that John Oates of "reverse-speech" fame was the man behind the
investigation into Art Bell's alleged criminal record. They both gave me the
same story, that Mr. Oates was angry at Art  for being "thrown off the air"
during an on-air interview, and that Oates was exacting "revenge" for what
he believed was mistreatment by Mr. Bell. Both of my sources told me they
were sure of this and they both requested anonymity, which I did promise.

In my brief, cursory examination of these alleged claims, I never inspected
any public records regarding this alleged matter, not did I employ or
request anyone else to do so. I felt at the time, as I do today , that there
was no merit to these allegations. About a week later, Clay Fondren called
me. I told him that I had no further interest in the matter and I declined
to participate any further into any investigation of Mr. Bell.

On May 21, 1999 I spoke to Art Bell and I asked him the pointed questions.
Here's what Art had to say:

Oliphant:  "Art, is there any truth at all to the allegations made against
you by Robert Stephens and David John Oates?

Bell: "Absolutely not"

Oliphant: "Have you ever been arrested?"

Bell: "Yes, I used to run a dating service in San Diego. The District
Attorney came in and grabbed everything. Ten days later the D.A.'s (District
Attorney's ) Office said "whoops", realized they'd made a mistake and
dropped the charges".

Oliphant: "So that's it?, that's all there was to it?"

Bell: "Well I sued them and won $50,000.00"

Oliphant: "Now what"

Bell: "Well we're filing a major lawsuit against Oates & Stephens next week"

Oliphant: "Is anyone else going to be sued?"

Bell: "No, no at this point".

Oliphant: "Am I going to be sued?"

Bell: "No! You didn't do anything wrong".

So there you have it sports fans, the rest of the story.  You have to take
responsibility for what you say. You don't make public accusations against
people unless you can back those claims with evidence that will hold up in a
court of law, because that's where you're going to end up.
You only have to be accused in America for the public to declare you guilty,
if you falsely accuse another, you too shall reap what you so.

Confucius say: "He who sets out on a path of revenge, should dig two
graves".