United States v. Hancock, No. 15-1779 (7th Cir. 2016)
Annotate this CaseAn undercover agent connected with Hancock using peer-to-peer software to download child pornography. Hancock granted access to his files and shared his password, allowing the agent to download child pornography from Hancock’s computer. Hancock pled guilty to knowingly transporting child pornography, 18 U.S.C. 2252A(a)(1). He admitted that he had about 1200 videos and 16,000 images of child pornography, many of which “involved sexual acts, including sexual intercourse, with prepubescent children.” The Sentencing Guidelines recommended a sentence of 151-188 months. Hancock fell within criminal history category I and his offense level was 34, with enhancements because: the material involved prepubescent minors; Hancock distributed material; the material portrayed violence or sadistic or masochistic conduct; Hancock used a computer; and Hancock had more than 600 images. Reductions were taken because Hancock accepted responsibility and timely pled guilty, Hancock argued, with factual support, that with technological advances, many offense-level increases prescribed by the Guidelines apply to the majority of offenders, even those whose conduct is typical, rather than unusually harmful. Hancock also provided the court with information about the sentences of seven other child pornography offenders, and urged the court to avoid an unwarranted sentencing disparity. The Seventh Circuit affirmed his sentence of 120 months; the judge adequately addressed his sentencing arguments.
Some case metadata and case summaries were written with the help of AI, which can produce inaccuracies. You should read the full case before relying on it for legal research purposes.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.