Eastern District of California Blog

Twitter Pimp Enters Not Guilty Plea

The "Twitter Pimp" entered a not guilty plea in Sacramento on Wednesday on sex trafficking charges.  7thSpace.com, 5/10/12.

70-Year Old Man Convicted Of Child Pornography And Other Offenses

A 70-year-old Sacramento man was convicted in federal court on Tuesday on five counts of child exploitation crimes, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced.

James E. Johnston was found guilty of conspiring to produce child pornography, two counts of receiving child pornography, possession of child pornography, and traveling in foreign commerce with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. The guilty verdict was returned by a federal jury in Sacramento after a five-day trial before U.S. District Judge Kimberly J. Mueller.

CBS13, 5/1/12

Pimping Charged In Fresno Federal Court Case

A Visalia man who federal authorities said forced a 16-year-old girl into prostitution and benefited financially was arraigned in federal court in Fresno on Tuesday.

Alejandro Manuel Perez, 26, entered a not guilty plea to charges of sex trafficking of a minor by force.

Visalia-Times Delta, 3/21/12

Fresno Sentencings

On Monday, Judge O'Neill sentenced a Visalia couple to 21 and 15 years, respectively, for making child pornography involving a 3-year old girl.  Fresno Bee, 12/19/11.  Also, Judge Ishii sentenced a Fresno gang member to 58 months for being a felon in possession of a sawed-off shotgun.  Fresno Bee, 12/19/11. 

Feds Charge Alleged Sexual Assault in Lassen Volcanic National Park

A 61-year-old Tehama County man was arrested Friday morning at his Red Bluff home after he was indicted Thursday by a federal grand jury in Sacramento on two felony counts of sexual assault.

The incident, which involved a 10-year-old Red Bluff girl, was reported to Red Bluff Police by the girl's mother in April and allegedly took place in Lassen Volcanic National Park in March, said Red Bluff Police Detective Kevin Hale.

Red Bluff Daily News

Sex Trafficking and Counterfeit Goods Indictments

More than just the run-of-the-mill drugs, guns, and immigration this week:

Six Sacramento residents--all women and five from the same family--were charged in a 13-count indictment filed Thursday with sex trafficking of minors.   Sac Bee Blog, 7/29/11

Federal agents arrested a 42-year old man for selling allegedly counterfeit luxury goods from three kiosks he operated at the Sacramento downtown plaza mall.  Sac Bee Blog, 7/30/11

Ninth Circuit Affirms EDCA Court's Dismissal Of SORNA Indictment

In U.S. v. Valverde, No. 09-10063, the Ninth Circuit affirmed Judge Karlton's dismissal of a SORNA prosecution.  The Court held that the effective date of the retroactivity provision of SORNA is August 1, 2008, not the February 28, 2007 date of the interim rule because of the Attorney General's invalid justifications for that rule.  In any event, this may not be the last word as the circuit split makes it likely the Supreme Court will grant certiorari.  Congrats to the Sacramento Federal Defender's Office.

Recent EDCA Sex Offense Cases

According to Wednesday's Sacramento Bee, a Sacramento Valley Internet Crimes Task Force arrested 15 men on child pornography charges, including some headed to the EDCA federal court. 

On Tuesday, Judge Karlton sentenced a Citrus Heights man to 160 months imprisonment.  He reportedly had a collection of more than 54,000 CP images, according to the same Bee article.  The sentence also included 10 years of supervised release and $7,500 in restitution.

On December 18, 2009, in Sacramento, Judge Garcia sentenced a child porn defendant to 121 months imprisonment, KCRA.com, while in Fresno, Judge O'Neill sentenced a man that same day to 122 months imprisonment and supervised release for life for traveling across state lines to have sex with a 15-year old who he communicated with via a X-Box live video game.   Huffington Post, 12/21/09

Finally, even the USA Today is covering the recent judicial debates over child porn sentences.   "Judges Seek Flexibility In Child Porn Cases," USA Today, 12/23/09 

Recent EDCA Sex Offense Sentencings

On Monday, Judge Wanger sentenced a Lemoore man to 17 1/2 years in prison for his conviction for the production of child pornography.  TurnTo23.com.

On Tuesday, Judge Karlton in Sacramento imposed a sentence of 78 months imprisonment on a defendant convicted of publishing an ad to receive, and the receipt of, child pornography.  U.S. v. Lawson, No. 06-CR-417-LKK.  In July, the same court had sentenced a defendant in a related case to 12 months and one day of imprisonment on his conviction for straight possession of child pornography.  U.S. v. Robideaux, No. 06-CR-418-LKK.  Both sentences were significantly below guidelines.

Last week, Judge England sentenced a man to five years in prison for having graphic, sexual chats with a teenage girl.  SouthTownStar, 12/5/09.  He is to start serving his sentence next year after he recovers from donating a kidney to his brother.   

Finally, this 12/6/09 post in the Sentencing Law & Policy Blog has links to four local news articles about the continuing debate over federal child porn sentencings.

Man Sentenced to 10 Years For Trying To Meet 13-Year Old Girl For Sex In FBI Sting

A 50-year-old electrical engineer was sentenced Thursday by Judge England in Sacramento federal court to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to using the Internet to attempt to commit criminal sex acts with a 13-year old girl, who was actually a FBI informant.   Sacramento Bee AP, 11/12/09