Opinion ID: 3151132
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Video Excerpts

Text: Prior to trial on the possession matter, Dudley filed a motion in limine offering to stipulate that the CDs found in his home contained child pornography as defined by federal law, and thus, sought to preclude the government from showing the jury any images of child pornography. Alternatively, Dudley sought to limit publication to one image and/or to limit the image, or images, to those that were less inflammatory, such as those depicting children in sexually suggestive poses rather than, for example, an image of adults sexually abusing children. Dudley also sought - 18 - to limit the images to show only the bodies of the children because [t]he expressions on the faces of the children who are being abused are heartbreaking and [would] most certainly inflame the passions of the jury. For its part, the government sought to introduce three videos (out of approximately one hundred) from the DVDs found in Dudley's office14 and to play a thirty-second clip from each for the jury. The first two videos were approximately twelve and fifteen minutes long, respectively, and depicted sexual activity between adults and children.15 The forensic evidence showed that both of these videos had been opened using the password-protected laptop computer seized from Dudley's bedroom. The third video, which the government ultimately chose not to play for the jury, was over two minutes long and also showed explicit images of children. That video had been shared from Dudley's IP address and downloaded by Agent Conley during the course of his investigation. In opposing Dudley's motion, the government argued that: (1) it was not obligated to accept Dudley's stipulation and was entitled 14 Evidence showed that a similar Phillips DVD was found in Dudley's office containing church-related materials. During his interrogation with Agents Fife and Conley Dudley had claimed to be a pastor and said that he held weekly services in his apartment. 15These video files were titled: pthc -- open -- euro family young sex education very young girl a.mpg and (pthc) compilation (sex bj cum).wmv. The third video was titled: (pthc) 8yr mom rubbs daughter.mpg. - 19 - to prove its case by evidence of its own choice; (2) the nature of the videos was relevant to issues of knowledge and lack of mistake that the videos were child pornography; and (3) introduction of those particular videos (along with the forensic evidence) would demonstrate the unlikelihood that the videos were present in [Dudley's] apartment without his knowledge. After viewing the challenged videos (and proposed excerpts) and conducting its Rule 403 balancing, the district court concluded that Dudley's requested limitations would limit the probative value of the proffered evidence while doing little to nothing to limit the prejudicial impact, which the district court noted was not unfair prejudice in any event. In the district court's assessment, the government was entitled to present a limited number of images to meet its burden to prove -- not just possession -- but knowledge and lack of mistake. The district court further determined it could not force the government to accept Dudley's offer to stipulate [b]ecause the images [were] part of the Government's narrative and probative on multiple elements of the offense. In the end, two (of three) videos were admitted during the government's case-in-chief, and two thirty-second excerpts were played for the jury during the government's closing argument. - 20 -