Kyle Payne

A motion by the attorney of a 22-year-old Iowa blogger and self-proclaimed male feminist to postpone sentencing has been partially approved by Iowa District Judge Don E. Courtney.

Courtney ruled yesterday that the sentencing of Ida Grove native Kyle Payne, charged with secretly photographing and filming the breast of a college student, could be postponed to Aug. 25. Montgomery Brown, Payne’s attorney, had argued for the sentencing to be scheduled in October to allow his client time to continue counseling and gather letters of support.

Payne pleaded guilty in late July to felony attempted burglary and two counts of invasion of privacy. The charges stemmed from a January 2007 incident that occurred while he was employed as a dormitory resident adviser at Buena Vista University. He faces a maximum of five years in prison and a fine up to $7,500.

On Aug. 2, Payne wrote on his blog that he is undergoing therapy for “various mental health issues” and that he is a victim of childhood sexual assault.

Kyle Payne

Kyle D. Payne, a 22-year-old Iowa blogger and self-proclaimed male feminist, would like more time to undergo counseling and gather letters of support before appearing in court, according to a motion filed by his attorney in Buena Vista County this morning.

Payne, who pleaded guilty to secretly photographing and filming a college student’s breasts, was scheduled for sentencing on Aug. 11. His attorney, F. Montgomery Brown, cites conflicts within his own schedule as well as Payne’s need for more time to prepare as reasons the court should grant the motion to continue.

Defendant is in the process of continued counseling, the results of which will be presented at sentencing in this matter and may bear upon the Court’s determination of the appropriate sentences in the above-entitled matter.

Counsel for Defendant is in the continued process of acquiring letters of support to support to the Court (sic) at sentencing and reasonably believes that additional time is need (sic) to acquire additional letters.

According to the motion, Payne is currently employed and continuing post-graduate studies. Because of this, Brown argues, Payne is “neither a risk to flee or danger to the community.” Brown closes by requesting the sentencing date be moved to October. The prosecution is expected to resist an extended continuance of the hearing.

Payne presented his guilty plea to the charges of felony attempted burglary in the second degree and two counts of invasion of privacy, a serious misdemeanor, on June 30. He faces a maximum of five years in prison and a fine up to $7,500. As a condition of the plea deal, the state has agreed that no other charges will be filed as a result of this incident.

The incident that led to Payne’s arrest and subsequent plea agreement happened while Payne was employed as a dormitory resident adviser at Buena Vista University. Police reports indicate that while attending to an intoxicated and unconscious female student, Payne reportedly assaulted and photographed her. The guilty plea entered by Payne did not include assault charges. Tips received by police and campus security following the incident led to a 10-month investigation that resulted in the February arrest.

The case has sparked the ire of many feminist bloggers throughout the nation, primarily due to the fact that Payne has claimed to use activism and education to promote “a more just and life-affirming culture of sexuality” for women, especially those women who have been victims of sexual violence.