Feds: Pennsylvania man pirated movie audio at drive-in

PITTSBURGH (AP) — A western Pennsylvania accused of pirating audio of the Cameron Diaz movie “Sex Tape” at a Pittsburgh-area drive-in was arraigned today on charges stemming from what prosecutors said was part of a broader conspiracy to sell bootleg movies online.

Brian Ridley, 38, of Butler, was allowed to remain free on bond after his appearance before a federal magistrate in Pittsburgh. Ridley’s federal public defender, Michael Novara, declined comment.

Ridley allegedly recorded the audio at the Dependable Drive-In in Moon Township back in July 2014, federal prosecutors said in an indictment handed down last month.

Others unnamed in the indictment would use camcorders to video record the movies at walk-in theaters. Ridley and others recorded the audio from drive-ins, where theaters now use FM radio broadcasts to send higher-quality sound signals to viewers’ cars, authorities said.