Opinion ID: 1036619
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: State Court Criminal Proceedings

Text: Shoemaker was charged with possession of child pornography under California Penal Code § 311.11 and duplication of child pornography under California Penal Code § 311.3.1 At trial, Shoemaker sought a directed verdict, which the trial court denied. Shoemaker argued that the images in question were innocuous photographs at the time they were created (at nudist camps and the like), and that the display of such images on a pornographic website could not convert them into child pornography. The trial judge rejected this argument and stated: “The prosecution will be able to argue that [a] photograph [that is alleged to be child pornography] included in the other photographs on the same [pornographic] website . . . imbues it with the essence of the 1 California Penal Code § 311.11 makes it a crime for a person to “knowingly possess[] or control[] any matter, representation of information, data, or image . . . the production of which involves the use of a person under the age of 18 years, knowing that the matter depicts a person under the age of 18 years personally engaging in or simulating sexual conduct, as defined in subdivision (d) of Section 311.4.” California Penal Code § 311.4(d) defines “sexual conduct” as including actual or simulated “sexual intercourse” and “exhibition of the genitals or pubic or rectal area for the purpose of sexual stimulation of the viewer.” (emphasis added). California Penal Code § 311.3 makes it a crime to “knowingly develop[], duplicate[], print[], or exchange[] any representation of information, data or image . . . that depicts a person under the age of 18 years engaged in an act of sexual conduct.” This section defines “sexual conduct” in substantively the same way as § 311.4. 8 SHOEMAKER V. TAYLOR violation . . . . To this court’s mind, it is the use of the photograph. . . . You can take an innocuous photograph and make it illegal. I can take a questionable photograph and make it legal. It’s all in the use of the photograph.” The trial court then instructed the jury that in determining whether an image met the statutory definition of child pornography, it could consider five factors: (1) “whether the focal point is on the child’s genitalia or pubic or rectal area”; (2) “whether the setting is sexually suggestive; that is, in a place or pose generally associated with sexual activity”; (3) “whether the child is in an unnatural pose, or inappropriate attire considering the age of the child”; (4) “whether the child is fully or partially clothed or nude”; and (5) “whether the child’s conduct suggests sexual coyness or a willingness to engage in sexual activity.” In determining whether there has been a prohibited exhibition of a minor child’s genitals, pubic, or rectal area based upon the above factors, it is not necessary to conclude that all factors 1 through 5 are present.2 At closing, the trial court allowed the prosecutor to argue that the placement of six of the images on Shoemaker’s adult pornography website, Beachbaby, was evidence that those images were child pornography. After addressing the 2 These five factors were established in United States v. Dost, 636 F. Supp. 828, 832 (S.D. Cal. 1986). SHOEMAKER V. TAYLOR 9 allegedly morphed images that more obviously showed sexual activity (Exhibits 8 and 14), the prosecutor turned to the other six images. He began by stating: So when my family and I visit the nudist camp, and my kids are getting out of the pool, and we are having a great time, and I click, click, click, and I take some pictures of them and I send them to Photomat. And I get them developed, and they come back and someone gets a hold of them like Mr. Shoemaker or [his co-defendant] and they put them on their website among other pictures, other pornographic pictures of adults, children, animals, people drinking urine, it is that context, ladies and gentlemen, of my child, anyone’s child on the bear skin rug in the bathtub with the soapy hair, with the little brother, the little sister laughing in the bathtub naked. It is when you see that image in the context of how it appears when a person looks at that photo placed amongst others by [co- defendant] and Mr. Shoemaker that make that image the exhibition of the genitals for the purpose of stimulation of the viewer. (emphasis added) The prosecutor then repeated to the jury all five factors from the instructions, stating: “Those are the factors that you should be looking at, ladies and gentlemen, when deciding these images in the context in which we find them . . . meet the requirement of an exhibition of the genitals for the purposes of sexual stimulation of the viewer.” The prosecutor also repeatedly emphasized, however, that six of 10 SHOEMAKER V. TAYLOR the images were found in the context of Beachbaby, an adult pornographic website. The prosecutor explained that, even assuming the nude photographs were not child pornography when viewed in isolation, their placement on the Beachbaby website was “for the purpose of stimulation of the viewer,” and thus evidence of child pornography under California law. Regarding one of the images, the prosecutor argued: Maybe there is nothing particular[ly] odd about this photograph. It is in a nudist camp and everybody is walking around naked. The child is just posing for the camera as many kids may do. Again, it is the placing in the context of the website. And interestingly enough this one is, again, on the Teens section of Beachbaby.com. Shoemaker was convicted of eight counts of misdemeanor possession of child pornography based on all eight images, and one count of duplication based on Exhibits 13 and 14, which were copied from the Beachbaby server to the Blowout server. Shoemaker was sentenced to 90 days in custody, 36 months probation, a $17,000 fine, and a one-year sexual compulsiveness counseling program. Shoemaker was also required to register as a sex offender for life.