Opinion ID: 626752
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: Lebowitz challenges the sufficiency of the evidence on both counts of conviction. Lebowitz contends his § 2251 conviction lacked sufficient evidence of purpose because the recording was only incidental to his sexual encounter with C.R. As for his conviction under 18 U.S.C. § 2422(b), Lebowitz contends that the Government failed to prove his criminal intent. We review the sufficiency of the evidence in a criminal trial de novo. United States v. Williams, 527 F.3d 1235, 1244 (11th Cir.2008). We must: (1) view the evidence in the light most favorable to the government; (2) resolve any conflicts in favor of the government; (3) accept all reasonable inferences that tend to support the government's case; and (4) assume that the jury made all credibility choices in support of the verdict. Id. In rebutting the government's evidence `[i]t is not enough for a defendant to put forth a reasonable hypothesis of innocence, because the issue is not whether a jury reasonably could have acquitted but whether it reasonably could have found guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.' Id. (quoting United States v. Thompson, 473 F.3d 1137, 1142 (11th Cir.2006) (alteration in original)).
Section 2251(a) required the Government prove beyond a reasonable doubt that one purpose of the sexually explicit conduct was to produce a visual depiction. 18 U.S.C. § 2251(a). The Government did not have to prove that Lebowitz was single-minded in his purpose. See Ortiz-Graulau, 526 F.3d at 19; cf. United States v. Sirois, 87 F.3d 34, 39 (2d Cir.1996) (The criminal law applies to everyone, not just the single-minded. And a person who transports children across state lines both to engage in sexual intercourse with them and to photograph that activity is no less a child pornographer simply because he is also a pedophile.) Lebowitz claims the recording was only incidental to his sexual encounter with C.R. The evidence belies his argument. C.R. testified that he and Lebowitz discussed videotaping a sexual encounter prior to the recording. Lebowitz brought the camera and a tripod, carried them through C.R.'s bedroom window, and set up the equipment. The sexual encounter occurred in C.R.'s bedroom only because there was not room for the recording equipment in Lebowitz's car. Such purposeful conduct cannot be described as incidental. See Ortiz-Graulau, 526 F.3d at 19 (This is not a case of a security camera mechanically picking up a random act.); Webster's Third New Int'l Dictionary 1142 (3d ed.1976) (defining incidental as occurring merely by chance or without intention or calculation). Whether some other sexual encounter would have occurred even without recording equipment is irrelevant. A reasonable jury could conclude Lebowitz violated 18 U.S.C. § 2251(a).
Section 2422(b) required the Government prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Lebowitz intended to engage in criminal sexual activity with K.S. Lebowitz argues that the evidence of his intent was ambiguous. Lebowitz contends the evidence does not support a finding that he believed K.S. was 15 years old during their initial conversations, and that he abandoned any ill motive upon learning K.S.'s true age. K.S. testified that he told Lebowitz in one of his first chats that he was 15 years old. Credibility questions are answered by the jury, and we will assume that the jury answered them in a manner that supports its verdict. Thompson, 473 F.3d at 1142. Further, the internet chat printouts provide significant additional evidence that Lebowitz was aware of K.S.'s age. Finally, even after K.S. had told Lebowitz on the phone that he was 15 years old, Lebowitz continued to entice K.S. In convicting Lebowitz, the jury was free to rely on any combination of these facts. See Schad v. Arizona, 501 U.S. 624, 632, 111 S.Ct. 2491, 2497, 115 L.Ed.2d 555 (1991) ([T]here is no general requirement that the jury reach agreement on the preliminary factual issues which underlie the verdict. (quotation omitted)). The evidence supports the jury's verdict.