Opinion ID: 4544572
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Case Overview

Text: In late August 2015, Richard Hennis and a person using the moniker “JadeJeckel” communicated on Kik Messenger 1 and discussed child pornography and child sex. In later November 2015 to January 2016 Kik messages, JadeJeckel and Hennis exchanged child pornography. At trial, the Government argued that Defendant Sarah Cox used the JadeJeckel messaging account. Cox denied that she sent or 1 Kik Messenger is an instant messaging application available for smartphones and tablets. It functions similarly to a standard text messaging service. 4 UNITED STATES V. COX received the messages. The jury convicted Cox on all counts. Although the indictment only alleged criminal conduct in December 2015, the Government offered the August 2015 Kik conversation to prove that Defendant Cox used the JadeJeckel account. Appellant Cox says this was prejudicial error. Cox also argues on appeal that insufficient evidence supported her conviction of making a notice offering child pornography when the notice was in a person-to-person text message. She claims the statute could only be violated through a wider distributed notice.