Louisiana Woman Pleads Guilty in Federal Child Pornography Case.
A Gonzales woman has pleaded guilty in federal court to receiving child sexual abuse material that she helped arrange through a series of photo shoots involving a minor.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Hannah Kinchen, 40, admitted to coordinating with a photographer, who described himself as a pedophile to conduct photo sessions under the pretense of supporting the minor’s modeling aspirations.
During the sessions, the minor was posed in sexually suggestive clothing, including thongs and G-strings.
Hannah Kinchen received most of the resulting images through an online file-sharing platform. Federal investigators determined that some of the photos met the legal definition of child pornography. Officials also stated that some of the material was later sold.
Kinchen pleaded guilty to one count of receipt of child pornography. She is scheduled to be sentenced on July 15, and faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 20 years in federal prison.
Sentencing will be determined by a U.S. District Court judge, who will consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case was investigated by the FBI New Orleans Division – Baton Rouge Resident Agency. The prosecution is being led by Trial Attorney Rachel L. Rothberg of the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen L. Craig for the Middle District of Louisiana, with assistance from CEOS Trial Attorney Charles Schmitz.
Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative launched by the U.S. Department of Justice in 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, particularly online.
Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), PSC works by coordinating federal, state, and local law enforcement resources to:
-
Identify and rescue victims of online child exploitation
-
Investigate and prosecute individuals who exploit children
-
Raise public awareness about online safety and prevention
The program plays a critical role in cases involving child pornography, online predators, sextortion, and other forms of internet-facilitated abuse.
More Articles from Lawyer Monthly
-
Sextortion: A Growing Threat to Teen Mental Health and Safety
-
Mary Kate Cornett v. Pat McAfee: Defamation & Cyberbullying Case
