Law

Good news for the prosecution of sexual predators.

Apr 27 - The Court of Appeals ruled that explicit words are just as bad as nude pictures when they're sent to children over the Internet.

The court reinstated the conviction of a Manhattan real estate lawyer who was found writing instant messages about masturbation and other sex acts to an undercover Westchester investigator posing as a 14-year-old boy.

Last month, Gov. Eliot Spitzer signed an amendment so the law now covers communications made "either in words or images." The change was prompted by Kozlow's initial win on appeal.

Likely to be impacted: Byram Hills High School teacher Paul Wicht, who sent explicit e-mails to a 14-year-old student and tried to meet the girl for sex.

Wicht was convicted in 2005 of first-degree attempted dissemination of indecent material to minors and was sentenced to 30 days in jail and five years' probation, but he was allowed to remain free on bail pending appeal.