United States of America, Appellee, v. David Hilton, Defendant, Appellant, 257 F.3d 50 (1st Cir. 2001)

APPEAL FROM THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF MAINE [Hon. Gene Carter, U.S. District Judge][Copyrighted Material Omitted]

Peter E. Rodway with whom Rodway & Horodyski was on brief for appellant.

F. Mark Terison, Senior Litigation Counsel, with whom Jay P. McCloskey, United States Attorney, was on brief for the United States.

Before Boudin, Chief Judge, Selya, Circuit Judge, and Schwarzer,^*  Senior District Judge.

Boudin, Chief Judge

David Hilton was convicted in federal district court in Maine on one count of possessing child pornography. Hilton now appeals, challenging the constitutionality of the statute under which he was convicted, the Child Pornography Prevention Act of 1996 ("CPPA"), 18 U.S.C. §§ 2252A(a) (5) (B) (Supp. II 1996), and the sufficiency of the government's evidence at trial. In an added twist, Hilton claims that he collected the pornographic material at the government's behest. Finally, Hilton argues that the district court erred in its application of the sentencing guidelines.

In November 1995, David Hilton contacted the FBI and said that he had received child pornography over the Internet and wished to turn it over to the government to assist in the enforcement of child pornography laws. Over the next three months, Hilton met with FBI Special Agent Thomas Honan on three or four occasions, at which time he provided Honan with pornographic materials on computer disc and, on one occasion, Honan copied material with Hilton's assistance directly from Hilton's computer.

During this same period, Honan authorized Hilton to save any unsolicited materials that he received in order to turn it over to the FBI. However, in February 1996, the FBI concluded that the material Hilton was providing was duplicative and Honan informed Hilton that he should no longer collect information for the FBI. In addition, Honan reminded Hilton that the possession of child pornography was illegal.

In August 1997, Hilton contacted the United States Customs Service and offered to help the agency investigate child pornography. On October 29, Hilton met with two Customs agents, provided them with a computer diskette that contained pornographic images, and demonstrated how he posed as a young girl in Internet "chat rooms." The agents reminded Hilton that possession of child pornography was illegal, told him he could not collect any further materials unless a law enforcement official was present, and twice asked him if he had any other materials (to which he replied "no" both times). The agents arranged another meeting with Hilton for early November.

Prior to the follow-up meeting and for a variety of reasons, the customs agents became suspicious of Hilton's motives. On November 7, agents executed a search warrant of his apartment, which revealed an extensive collection of adult pornography and hundreds of pictures of nude children. Hilton's computer, computer-related documents, and computer disks and storage tapes were seized. Importantly for this appeal, agents found three sets of what the government alleges is child pornography: seven images on a Sony computer backup tape, four images on a single sheet of paper in a gray box near Hilton's computer, and three images on Hilton's computer hard drive.

After indictment in December 1997, Hilton moved to dismiss the indictment based on constitutional grounds, and the district court granted Hilton's motion, finding that the CPPA was both overbroad and so vague as to violate due process. United States v. Hilton, 999 F. Supp. 131, 136-37 (D. Me. 1998). On the government's appeal, this Court reversed, upholding the Act's constitutionality. United States v. Hilton, 167 F.3d 61, 77 (1st Cir.), cert. denied, 528 U.S. 844 (1999). Thereafter, a superceding indictment was issued and Hilton, having waived his right to a jury, was convicted after a three-day bench trial. United States v. Hilton, No. 97-78-P-C, 2000 WL 894679, at *10 (D. Me. June 30, 2000).

At sentencing, the district court applied two two-level enhancements to Hilton's base offense level. The first enhancement (which Hilton does not now contest) was applied because Hilton possessed pornographic material depicting a prepubescent minor or minor under the age of twelve. U.S.S.G. §§ 2G2.4(b) (1) (2000). The second was applied because the district court concluded that Hilton possessed "ten or more items" of child pornography. Id. at §§ 2G2.4(b) (2). The district court also found that Hilton had not accepted responsibility for his conduct and therefore was not entitled to the corresponding two-level reduction in his base offense level. Hilton was subsequently sentenced to 40 months' imprisonment and three years supervised release.

Hilton now appeals and asks us to vacate his conviction and sentence. In reviewing his claims, we view the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict, United States v. Hughes, 211 F.3d 676, 681 (1st Cir. 2000), reversing for insufficient evidence only if no rational trier of fact could have found a defendant guilty, United States v. Blasini-Lluberas, 169 F.3d 57, 62 (1st Cir. 1999). We review questions of law de novo and defer to the extent appropriate on mixed questions of law and fact. In re Extradition of Howard, 996 F.2d 1320, 1327-28 (1st Cir. 1993).

Hilton begins with a broad attack on the CPPA's constitutionality, but we have rejected this claim on Hilton's earlier appeal. Hilton, 167 F.3d 61 at 76-77. Hilton asks that we reconsider our prior holding in light of a Ninth Circuit decision in Free Speech Coalition v. Reno, 198 F.3d 1083, 1097 (9th Cir. 1999), striking down part of the CPPA, cert. granted sub nom. Ashcroft v. Free Speech Coalition, 121 S. Ct. 876 (Jan. 22, 2001), but we decline to do so, noting that the Ninth Circuit struck down only those portions of the Act making illegal possession of computer generated images of fictitious children. Free Speech Coalition, 198 F.3d at 1097.

Next, Hilton challenges the sufficiency of the government's evidence at trial. Hilton first says that the government failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he knowingly possessed three or more images of child pornography, the minimum number required by the statute at the time of Hilton's offense conduct.¹  He argues that because there were so many other images (between 2,000 and 3,000) on his computer hard drive and various storage media, the government failed to prove that he actually knew that some of the files contained child pornography.

In convicting Hilton, the district court found it necessary to rely only on the seven images on the backup tape, which Hilton concedes were child pornography. Hilton is correct that the government must prove that he knew that he possessed the images in question. Hilton, 167 F.3d at 75. However, the government did present sufficient evidence to prove that Hilton knew of the images on the tape. The critical testimony came from Customs Agent Stephen Marx--an expert in computer forensics.

Marx testified that four of the images on the Sony backup tape (which also appeared on the sheet of paper located in the gray box in Hilton's apartment) were the same as images that Hilton had earlier turned over to the Customs Service at their October 1977 meeting. Marx said that the files on the backup tape had different creation dates than those turned over during the October meeting, even though the images were identical, and that one file also had a different name. Thus, said the agent, the images had either been downloaded at different times or the computer operator (Hilton) had manually manipulated the files.

In either case, Hilton would have been aware of the material contained in the files. See United States v. Hall, 142 F.3d 988, 997 (7th Cir. 1998). That Hilton knew what he was downloading and saving is further supported by Hilton's knowledge of computers (as illustrated by his demonstrations to the agents during their meetings) and by his profession (an electronics technician). Hilton presented no evidence to counter these inferences, and his cross examination of Marx cast no doubt on Marx's testimony. The district court did not err in concluding that Hilton knowingly possessed the pornographic images.

Hilton next argues that the government failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the images he possessed traveled in interstate commerce. The government has this burden as to each image necessary for conviction. United States v. Henriques, 234 F.3d 263, 266 (5th Cir. 2000). Under the case law, proof of transmission of pornography over the Internet or over telephone lines satisfies the interstate commerce element of the offense. United States v. Carroll, 105 F.3d 740, 742 (1st Cir.) (Internet), cert. denied, 520 U.S. 1258 (1997); United States v. Gilbert, 181 F.3d 152, 158-59 (1st Cir. 1999) (telephone).

Here, Agent Marx identified two factors to show that the images in question had traveled in interstate commerce. First, the files on the Sony backup tape were located in a so-called "MIRC" subdirectory, which contained software used in conjunction with Internet chat rooms. This, according to Marx, made it "likely" that the images had been downloaded from the Internet. Second, the time and date features of each of the image files were "indicative" of files that had been transmitted via modem. Modems are commonly used to link computers to telephone lines.

Hilton says that there was no evidence before the district court that this is what modems do and he objects that taking judicial notice was improper because (he says) "[t]he meaning and operation of a modem is not within the range of normal knowledge" and the court did not notify the parties of its intention to take judicial notice. Rule 201 provides that a court may take judicial notice of an "adjudicative fact" upon two conditions: (1) that it is either "generally known" within the area or easily determined from an indisputable source and (2) that the parties have an opportunity to contest the taking of notice, either before or after it is taken. Fed. R. Evid. 201.

Whether the definition of "modem" and the main function of the device is an adjudicative fact within the meaning of the rule is a nice question. "Adjudicative fact" is itself a fuzzy concept (indeed, there is more than one usage), and Rule 201's advisory committee notes do little more than borrow--and may well misconceive--Professor Davis' several formulations: e.g., "facts concerning the immediate parties." Compare Fed. R. Evid. 201(a) (Adv. Comm. Note) with Wright & Graham, Federal Practice and Procedure: Evidence §§ 5103 (1977 & Supp. 2001). Whether Hilton's computer contained a modem would be an adjudicative fact; what a modem generally does is less easily categorized because (among other problems) it is a fact but not really peculiar to the case.² 

In all events, this interesting, multi-faceted subject (see Wright, supra) need not be pursued because even if we assumed arguendo that what a modem does was (here) an adjudicative fact, the district court's footnote description is a correct dictionary definition and even now Hilton does not dispute it. See Random House Dictionary of the English Language 1236 (2d ed. 1987) (defining a modem as "an electronic device that makes possible the transmission of data to or from a computer via telephone or other communication lines"). Indeed, it is clear from the testimony that the district court, the attorneys, and the witnesses understood the relationship of a modem to the Internet and telephone lines. See Hilton, 2000 WL 894679 at *9 n.8. If there was error, it is patently harmless.

Hilton next says that Marx's "speculative testimony" still does not constitute proof beyond a reasonable doubt of an interstate nexus. But the government was not required to provide "direct" evidence of interstate transmission, Blasini-Lluberas, 169 F.3d at 62, and we cannot say that Marx's unchallenged expert testimony was insufficient for a finding that the images were transmitted over the Internet or telephone lines. United States v. Czubinski, 106 F.3d 1069, 1074 n.5 (1st Cir. 1997). Hilton's admitted modus operandi of receiving pornography over the Internet further strengthens the government's position.

Hilton asserts that the district court erred in rejecting his claim of entrapment by estoppel or pursuant to public authority. United States v. Smith, 940 F.2d 710, 715 (1st Cir. 1991) (entrapment), United States v. Baptista-Rodriguez, 17 F.3d 1354, 1368 n.18 (11th Cir. 1994) ("public authority"). Hilton says that in 1995 and 1996 Agent Honan authorized Hilton to possess child pornography so long as the images were turned over to the government and that the Customs Internet web page similarly authorized possession of pornographic images if they were delivered to law enforcement.

The district court rejected these claims in its decision, and we agree with its analysis, Hilton, 2000 WL 894679, at *4-6. As to direct authorization, Agent Honan admitted that he approved Hilton's possession of unsolicited child pornography in 1995, but at his last meeting with Hilton in February 1996, Honan told Hilton that the FBI no longer required his assistance and that possession of child pornography was illegal. Thereafter, Customs agents Booke and Marx repeated to Hilton the latter warning. When pornographic material was found in Hilton's possession on November 7, 1997, Hilton had to know that he was not authorized to possess child pornography.

Hilton also says that statements on the Customs Service web site seemingly authorized him to possess child pornography and that he reasonably relied on those statements. The district court found no "direct evidence to suggest that [Hilton] did in fact rely on the information on the web site." Hilton, 2000 WL 894679, at *6 n.3; see also United States v. Achter, 52 F.3d 753, 755 (8th Cir. 1995) (requiring "reasonable reliance" on government statements for public authority and entrapment by estoppel claims); United States v. Burrows, 36 F.3d 875, 882 (9th Cir. 1994) (same). On appeal Hilton points to no evidence that he actually relied on the web site. Mere awareness of the web site's existence does not constitute reliance. See Compagnie de Reassurance D'lle de France v. New England Reinsur. Corp., 57 F.3d 56, 86 (1st Cir.), cert. denied, 516 U.S. 1009 (1995).

Absent actual reliance, we (like the district court) need not decide whether the web site language lends itself to a reasonable reliance defense. Without suggesting any view on this issue, we think government counsel might wish to draw the attention of the Customs Service to Hilton's claim, noting in particular the "cash award" paragraph on the web site.

Lastly, Hilton challenges his sentencing. Principally, he says that the district court improperly applied a two-level enhancement for possession of ten or more items of child pornography. U.S.S.G. §§ 2G2.4(b) (2).³  We review the district court's interpretation of the guidelines de novo, United States v. Austin, 239 F.3d 1, 4 (1st Cir. 2001), but its factual determinations only if clearly erroneous, United States v. Rosario-Peralta, 199 F.3d 552, 570 (1st Cir. 1999), cert. denied, 121 S. Ct. 241 (2000).

Section 2G2.4(b) (2) calls for a two-level enhancement if a defendant possessed "ten or more books, magazines, periodicals, films, video tapes, or other items, containing a visual depiction involving the sexual exploitation of a minor." Although the district court did not state which items it included in its "ten or more" calculation, to support the enhancement the government identifies eleven "items" in its brief that were offered in evidence at trial. According to its count, the sheet of paper in the gray box was a single "item," the Sony backup tape held seven files (each of which constituted a separate "item"), and the computer hard drive held three more files (each of which was also an "item").

Hilton reports that the district court erred by counting each backup tape file as a single "item," and that the three specified files on the hard drive do not satisfy the guidelines' definition of child pornography and thus he did not possess ten or more items. Even plausibly assuming in the government's favor that we were to count each file as a single item,⁴  we conclude--for reasons explained below-- that two of the three images on the hard drive do not constitute either pictures involving the sexual exploitation of a minor or child pornography as defined by the statute.

We begin with definitions. Assuming in all cases an interstate nexus, possession of depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct is made criminal by 28 U.S.C. §§ 2252(a) (4), the statute cross referenced in the guideline; possession of child pornography is made criminal by 28 U.S.C. §§ 2252A(a) (5) (B), the statute under which Hilton was convicted. In both cases, a depiction of sexually explicit conduct is required and defined in the same way; the difference is that the former statute is directed only to depictions of actual minors while the latter includes them but extends also to those who only appear to be minors or are fictitious creations but appear real.

However, neither side has made anything of this distinction which we note only to avoid confusion in future cases. Both sides assume (at least by silence) that the guideline applies, that the common definition of sexually explicit conduct must be satisfied, and that there is no issue here as to whether a depicted minor is real, apparent or fictitious. Everything turns, then, on the phrase "sexually explicit conduct" which the chapter's definition section defines to include a "lascivious display of the genitals or pubic area of any person." 18 U.S.C. §§ 2256(2) (E) (1994). There is no claim by the government that the images in question qualify under the other definitions of sexually explicit conduct in subsections (A), (B), (C), or (D). Nudity in and of itself does not constitute a "lascivious display." United States v. Amirault, 173 F.3d 28, 33 (1st Cir. 1999).

In its brief, the government goes to great lengths to describe the three images from the hard drive in terms that reflect the six- factor test we adopted in Amirault to help determine whether or not an image is a "lascivious display of the genitals." Id. at 31.⁵  However, as we stated in Amirault, these factors, although "generally relevant," are not comprehensive and each determination of whether an image contains a lascivious display is necessarily case specific. Id. at 32.

In this case, applying de novo review, id. at 32-33, we conclude that two of three images do not constitute lascivious displays of the genitals or pubic area. The first image, government exhibit 48(b), depicts a female on a bed partially covered by a sheet and holding a small flower. Although the setting is sexually suggestive, the subject's genitalia are not visible and the pubic area is not the focus of the picture. The subject's pose is not especially unnatural and viewing the totality of the image we find that it does not qualify as "lascivious."

The second image, government exhibit 48(i), also falls short of the statutory requirement. Once again, the subject's genitals and pubic area are covered by what appears to be clothing or a sheet. In addition, the focus of the photo is not on the subject's pubic area, nor is there anything in the subject's pose or expression, or in the setting, which is particularly lascivious or suggests sexual activity. Although the subject's upper body is nude, the image as a whole does not constitute child pornography within the definition of the statute.

At oral argument, the government suggested for the first time that in determining whether Hilton possessed ten or more items we should not only look at the eleven images noted in its brief, but also all of the other items that were on the computer's hard drive and backup tape. But the government made no specific mention of any other images in its brief, and there is no indication in the trial record which, if any, other viewable images were put in evidence or considered by the district court at sentencing.

At the same time, it is far from clear that the district court relied in any way on the two depictions that we find were not child pornography. The district judge discussed in his decision convicting Hilton only the seven images on the backup tape, which based on the court's description were plainly pornographic, a conclusion that Hilton has not challenged. At sentencing, the court said only that in addition to the backup tape, "there's a multitude of other items." The government represents, albeit belatedly, that thousands of images were seized from Hilton and support the "ten or more" finding.

Because on this record we cannot uphold the sentence, the case must clearly be remanded for resentencing. This court has authority to delineate the proceedings on remand. 28 U.S.C. §§ 2106. Given what has transpired, including the government's initial reliance on the eleven images, we think that the district court can follow either of two courses: either resentence Hilton without the "ten or more" adjustment or consider other images and determine anew whether the adjustment is appropriate. If the latter course is followed, it would be helpful for the district court to identify by exhibit numbers the items relied upon.

The judgment is affirmed, the sentence is vacated, and the case is remanded for resentencing not inconsistent with this opinion.