United States v. Kearn, 10th Cir. (2017)
United States v. Kearn, 10th Cir. (2017)
United States v. Kearn, 10th Cir. (2017)
TENTH CIRCUIT
Plaintiff - Appellee,
v. No. 15-3121
JONATHAN KEARN,
Defendant - Appellant.
arising from pictures he took of his four-and-a-half year old daughter and shared
on the internet. He was sentenced to a lengthy prison term followed by five years
of supervised release.
Kearn contends the district court committed various errors at trial and
sentencing. First, Kearn raises several evidentiary objections. He argues that the
government elicited hearsay testimony when it asked a witness about the contents
of an inculpatory report written by an expert who did not testify at trial. Even
assuming this testimony was hearsay, however, we find no plain error, since
admitting it did not affect the outcome of the trial. Kearn also argues that
because it was not helpful to the jury. The testimony was helpful, however, since
whether the images depicted sexually explicit conduct was a fact in issue. The
testimony also helped explain steps in the investigation. Finally, Kearn argues
that evidence was improperly admitted under Federal Rule of Evidence 404(b),
but he fails to direct us to any evidence actually admitted under that rule.
Second, Kearn argues the jury should have been instructed that they had to
agree unanimously on which specific images formed the basis for conviction. In
his view, all of the jurors had to agree that at least one specific image violated
federal law. But this misstates the case law: unanimity is only required for
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Third, Kearn argues that a supervised-release condition that will prohibit
interfered with his right of familial association. But he has waived these
arguments, which he did not make at sentencing, by failing to argue for plain
error.
Finally, Kearn argues that the cumulative effect of the errors in this case
mandates reversal. But we only identify one possible error here, so cumulative
defendantis unavailing.
We thus conclude that none of the issues Kearn raises requires reversal.
I. Background
Kearns daughters. In most of the pictures the girls were clothed, but one of the
videos of young girls who were not Kearns daughters. In these e-mails,
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cheyenneandliberty described himself as a thirty-eight year old from Kansas,
and a single father to four daughters: a four-and-a-half year old, two ten-year-old
twins, and a thirteen year old. When Detective Butler asked him for a family
of his daughters.
Detective Butler looked at the data embedded in the digital images, which
shows when they were taken and the device used to take them. The data showed
internet, but taking the images himself. He therefore referred the exchange to the
Investigators found the IP address used to send some of the images was
associated with Kearns Kansas home address. Kearns age, family situation, and
executed a search warrant at Kearns house. Kearns daughters were present, and
the investigating agent, Special Agent Cassidy Casner, recognized the girls from
the images sent to Detective Butler. Investigators seized Kearns iPhone 4sthe
same model that had taken the photographsand footage from his home security
system.
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When Agent Casner reviewed the home security footage, it corroborated the
e-mails sent to Detective Butler and the embedded data from the images. That is,
the footage confirmed that Kearn was using his phone when the e-mails were sent;
Kearn was with his daughters when the pictures were taken; and the daughters
were wearing the same clothes shown in the pictures on the dates the pictures
were taken.
A grand jury indicted Kearn with (1) permitting his minor child to engage
At trial, in addition to the home security footage and the e-mail exchange
with Detective Butler, the government presented the expert testimony of Special
evidence. Agent Beebe testified that Kearns iPhone contained explicit images of
young girls, evidence of the cheyenneandliberty e-mail address, and two videos
of Kearns youngest daughter naked with Kearns voice in the background. Agent
Beebe also found one of the images e-mailed to Detective Butler on the iPhone.
persona was contacted, and ProudPapa, a nom de plume used in the e-mails
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Kearn testified at trial. He admitted he had taken the explicit photo and
videos of his youngest daughter. But in his defense, he said she had reported
being molested by her mothers boyfriend and he had taken the photos and videos
as evidence of the molestation. A sheriffs report indeed showed that Kearn had
reported this alleged molestation to the sheriff a year before the e-mail exchange
the explicit images on his phone other than the ones of his youngest daughter.
Kearn operated a heating and air conditioning business from his home, and
suggested a former employee with access to his iPhone could have downloaded
Kearn also presented evidence from his own computer expert, Andreux
in a file created from the iPhone data. He testified he did not find any evidence
The jury found Kearn guilty on all counts. The district court sentenced
during which he may not contact minors or the victim of the offense (his youngest
daughter).
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II. Analysis
introduced at trial was inadmissible on hearsay or relevancy grounds, and that the
also contends the court should have instructed the jury to agree unanimously on
which specific images were the basis for his conviction. He urges us to find these
condition that will prohibit him from contacting his victimhis youngest
daughterwas improper. 1
Kearn did not raise these issues at trial, so we review them for plain error.
Under the plain error standard, [the appellant] must demonstrate: (1) an error,
(2) that is plain, meaning clear or obvious under current law, (3) that affects
1
We do not address in detail two other issues Kearn raises. First, Kearn
challenges the constitutionality of the Tenth Circuit reasonable-doubt instructions
given at his trial, but we have recently upheld the constitutionality of those
instructions. See United States v. Petty, 856 F.3d 1306, 1311 (10th Cir. 2017)
(concluding that the Tenth Circuit Pattern Jury Instruction on reasonable doubt,
taken as a whole, adequately convey[s] the concept of reasonable doubt to the
jury).
Second, Kearn argues that if we do not find plain error, we should remand
to the district court for an evidentiary hearing on claims of ineffective assistance
of counsel. But our decision in United States v. Galloway, 56 F.3d 1239 (10th
Cir. 1995) (en banc) forecloses that approach. See id. at 1240 (Ineffective
assistance of counsel claims should be brought in collateral proceedings, not on
direct appeal. Such claims brought on direct appeal are presumptively
dismissible, and virtually all will be dismissed.).
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substantial rights, and (4) that seriously affects the fairness, integrity, or public
126566 (10th Cir. 2016) (citing United States v. Rosales-Miranda, 755 F.3d
1253, 125758 (10th Cir. 2014)). Crucially, [t]o satisfy the third prong of
prejudicial, meaning that there is a reasonable probability that, but for the error
claimed, the result of the proceeding would have been different. United States
v. Bustamante-Conchas, 850 F.3d 1130, 1138 (10th Cir. 2017) (en banc) (quoting
United States v. Algarate-Valencia, 550 F.3d 1238, 1242 (10th Cir. 2008)).
We review each of the issues raised in turn, and find no plain error as to
any.
A. Hearsay Testimony
evidence through his expert witness. At trial, Kearn presented the testimony of
computer expert Andreux Doty, who testified he did not find any evidence the
As part of this line of inquiry, the government asked about a report prepared by a
previously retained defense expert, Tammy Loehrs. Loehrs did not testify at trial.
After Doty said he had read the Loehrs Report, the prosecutor asked him if it
would help [his] memory if [she] showed [him] a copy of the report. R., Vol. 2
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at 718. When he said yes, she showed him the report, which was marked as a
Government Exhibit.
The Loehrs Report, even though solicited by the defense, was substantially
more inculpatory than Dotys report. The prosecution asked Doty whether Loehrs
did a key word search for cheyenneandliberty . . . [that] resulted in over 1,000
hits located in numerous folders on . . . both the phone and the hard drive[.] R.,
Vol. 2 at 72627. The prosecution also asked whether the Loehrs Report located
45 hits for the term ProudPapaused in the e-mails with Detective Butleron
Kearns iPhone. R., Vol. 2 at 727. Doty said the Loehrs Report asserted both
those points. On redirect, Kearns lawyer asked Doty more questions about the
Loehrs Report, and Doty criticized the Loehrs Report for failing to validate the
indicating that files on the computer had been accessed after the computer had
Kearn contends that eliciting the contents of the Loehrs Report from Doty
violated Federal Rule of Evidence 802, which generally prohibits the admission of
Assuming without deciding that the Loehrs Report was hearsay and
violated Kearns rights under the Confrontation Clause, Kearn cannot demonstrate
that the district court plainly erred by admitting it. To satisfy the third prong of
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prejudicial, meaning that there is a reasonable probability that, but for the error
Algarate-Valencia, 550 F.3d 1238, 1242 (10th Cir. 2008)). Kearn cannot do that
here. 2
relatively short. The facts elicited about the report from Doty were: (1) there
2
Kearn argues that under the third prong of plain-error analysis prejudice
for purposes of a Confrontation Clause violation focuses on the particular
witness, not on the outcome of the entire trial. Aplt. Br. at 27 (quoting United
States v. Holloway, 826 F.3d 1237, 1249 (10th Cir. 2016)). But this conflates the
prejudice requirement in the third prong of plain-error analysis with the showing
of prejudice required to state a violation of the Confrontation Clause. Although
the word prejudice appears in both contexts, the cases are not referring to the
same inquiry.
Here, then, because we assume error and decide the issue on the third
prong, we ask not whether there has been a violation of the Confrontation Clause,
but instead make the normal inquiry: whether there is a reasonable probability
that, but for the error claimed, the result of the proceeding would have been
different. See, e.g., United States v. Pablo, 696 F.3d 1280, 129394 (10th Cir.
2012) (finding that an assumed Confrontation Clause violation did not affect a
defendants substantial rights where the defendant would have been convicted
even without the erroneous testimony).
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was an application on [Kearns] phone that was for storing a photograph, R.,
Vol. 2 at 725; (2) the Loehrs[] examination also determined that the [e]-mail
cheyenneandliberty[] was being used on the iPhone with other accounts but
[Loehrs] was unable to recover any actual [e]-mails, R., Vol. 2 at 726; (3) a key
word search for cheyenneandliberty . . . resulted in over 1,000 hits . . . [on] both
the phone and the [personal computer] hard drive, R., Vol. 2 at 72627; and
(4) Loehrs found 45 hits for ProudPapa on the iPhone, R., Vol. 2 at 727.
testimony of the prosecutions expert witness, Agent Beebe. See R., Vol. 2
revealed that the cheyenneandliberty e-mail address was being used on the
ProudPapa). The only distinction is that Special Agent Beebe did not number
the hits for cheyenneandliberty over 1,000, but that distinction is immaterial
in context.
For instance, Kearn admitted taking the explicit pictures and videos. The
pictures were e-mailed using an IP address associated with Kearns house. The
embedded data showed the pictures were taken shortly before they were e-mailed,
which was a year after Kearn claimed his daughter had been molested. The home
security system showed Kearn using his phone around the time the e-mails were
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sent. Kearns phone contained evidence of the e-mail address from which the
pictures were sent. Finally, Kearns phone contained other explicit photographs
of children.
Because the information elicited about the Loehrs Report did not affect the
outcome of the trial, we find the district court did not commit plain error by
admitting it.
B. Helpfulness of Testimony
Federal Rules of Evidence 701 and 702, which provide that opinion testimony
must be helpful to the trier of fact to be admissible. See Fed. R. Evid. 701(b) (If
specialized knowledge will help the trier of fact to understand the evidence or to
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inadmissible because they were not helpful to the jury. 3 For example, at trial the
government asked Agent Beebe whether he prepared a report of his findings from
saw images that were child pornographic in nature. R., Vol. 2 at 557. Later the
government asked Agent Beebe whether he found images that [he] believed were
Rule 701 applies to the lay testimony of Detective Butler and Agent
Casner, and Rule 702 applies to the expert testimony of Agent Beebe. But
helpfulness is similar for both lay and expert testimony. Testimony is not
helpful if it simply tell[s] the jury what result it should reach without providing
any explanation of the criteria on which that opinion is based or any means by
which the jury can exercise independent judgment. United States v. Dazey, 403
F.3d 1147, 1171 (10th Cir. 2005). We have excluded this type of testimony
because it usurps the function of the jury in deciding the facts, or because it
interferes with the function of the judge in instructing the jury on the law. Id.
3
Kearn also argues that testimony he distributed the images to Detective
Butler and that he owned the iPhone on which the images were recovered violated
these rules. But these are facts, not opinions, so these rules do not apply.
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In support of his argument that the testimony identifying child pornography
was not helpful, Kearn points to a Seventh Circuit case, which found inadmissible
a federal agents testimony that photos on the defendants computer met the
federal definition of child pornography. United States v. Noel, 581 F.3d 490,
49699 (7th Cir. 2009). The Noel court found that the agents testimony was
But the witness comments here are distinguishable from the comments in
Noel, because these witnesses did not mention the legal definition, or tell the jury
what to find. Indeed, the government made clear its questions did not concern the
45152 (10th Cir. 1990). In Stanley, a U.S. Postal Inspector testified that he had
pornography for decades. Id. at 451. The government offered as lay opinion
sexually explicit conduct were under the age of eighteen. Id. at 45152. On
appeal, the defendant argued this testimony was not helpful because the pictures
spoke for themselves. Id. at 452. This court disagreed, finding that the
inspectors testimony was helpful (1) in determining the age of the subjects,
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supervised delivery, obtained a search warrant, and seized the defendants
The same analysis holds here. Testimony about whether particular images
were child pornography was helpful to the jury, since whether the images
depicted sexually explicit conduct was a fact in issue. See R., Vol. 1 at 2325
testimony about the law-enforcement officers views on the images was helpful as
We therefore do not find the district court plainly erred by admitting this
testimony.
the defendants smart phone and computer, including but not limited to sexually
explicit images of any minors, nude video clips of [Kearns youngest daughter],
and search terms indicating an interest in such material. R., Vol. 1 at 74. The
government sought to introduce the evidence under Rule 404(b) to show the
Kearn argues this was error, because the government did not precisely articulate
the purpose of the proffered evidence. Aplt. Br. at 41 (citing United States v.
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Under Rule 404(b), [e]vidence of a crime, wrong, or other act is not
occasion the person acted in accordance with the character. Fed. R. Evid.
We have held that the government must precisely articulate the purpose of
the proffered [404(b)] evidence. United States v. Birch, 39 F.3d 1089, 1093
(10th Cir. 1994). Moreover, the trial court must specifically identify the purpose
for which such evidence is offered. Id. (quoting United States v. Kendall, 766
F.2d 1426, 1436 (10th Cir. 1985)). [A] broad statement merely invoking or
restating Rule 404(b) will not suffice. Id. (quoting Kendall, 766 F.2d at 1436).
We have therefore held that a statement providing that the evidences purpose was
failed to articulate with precision the evidentiary purpose of the Rule 404(b)
tracks almost exactly the statement we found inadequate in Birch. But the
government responds that the district court here never ruled on the pre-trial Rule
404(b) motion. In its view, the evidence at trial was intrinsic to the charged
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conduct, and was not admitted under Rule 404(b). The governments brief
canvasses the evidence, and explains the purpose for which each piece was
admittedmaking out the elements of the charged offenses. Because Kearn was
explicit images on his phone and search terms indicating his mental state did not
need to come into trial under 404(b). They were the very point of the trial.
Kearn does not point us to the district courts ruling on the proposed
evidence, and does not dispute the governments assertion that the evidence at
trial did not come in under Rule 404(b). There are no references to Rule 404(b)
Kearn, moreover, does not point to any evidence actually admitted under
Rule 404(b), and does not rebut the governments argument that none was. Given
Kearn next argues the district court erred in failing to instruct the jury that
it must agree unanimously on which specific images were the basis for
conviction. The district court only gave a general unanimity instruction. R., Vol.
Kearn argues this instruction was insufficient, and Tenth Circuit Criminal Pattern
Jury Instruction 1.24, at 37 (2011 ed., rev. 2017) (Unanimity of Theory) was
legally required. The relevant part of that instruction provides that in order to
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return a guilty verdict, all twelve of you must agree upon which of the listed acts,
if any, the defendant committed. Since, argues Kearn, there were multiple
images that arguably violated federal law, different jurors could have had in mind
We disagree that Instruction 1.24 was required. Its use note explains that
that the defendant has committed multiple acts which may constitute an
Richardson v. United States, 526 U.S. 813 (1999), which involved different
by the statute as a violat[ion] of the drug statutes where such violation is part
(c)). The Supreme Court held that a jury in a federal criminal case brought
under 848 must unanimously agree not only that the defendant committed some
continuing series of violations but also that the defendant committed each of the
offense and the means by which the government may satisfy an element.
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Elements, the Court held, must be found unanimously by the jury. Id. at 817. On
the other hand, the jury need not agree unanimously on the means by which an
element is proven. Id. Consequently, a federal jury need not always decide
particular element, say, which of several possible means the defendant used to
the government produces evidence the defendant has committed multiple acts that
might be considered elements of the crime. See United States v. Sorensen, 801
F.3d 1217, 1237 (10th Cir. 2015) (describing Instruction 1.24 as anchored in
Richardsons holding and finding fault in its use in a charge far different from
Richardson), cert. denied, 136 S. Ct. 1163 (2016). It does not apply to situations
where multiple acts might be considered different means of satisfying the element
requirement. Id.
Looking at the statutes under which Kearn was charged and convicted, we
find they do not require unanimity as to which images formed the basis for
conviction. Different images are merely different means of satisfying the element
language, we have:
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Any parent . . . who knowingly permits such minor to engage in . . .
sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing any visual depiction
of such conduct . . . shall be punished . . . [if the depiction travels in
interstate commerce.] 18 U.S.C. 2251(b) (emphasis added).
All three statutes thus refer to any visual depiction meeting the statutory
criteria. In other words, if the government has shown the jury that the defendant
any visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, the jury
may convict. The governments evidence thus went to means of satisfying the
following conduct illegal: The murdering of another in the room of a house with
a blunt household instrument. This statute thus has three elements: (1) the
murdering of another (2) in the room of a house (3) with a blunt household
instrument. The evidence at trial is that Peter and Paul were in a house alone
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together, all entrances and exits to the house were locked, and Paul died from
head trauma from a blunt instrument. Peters fingerprints and DNA were found
on a candlestick, a wrench, and a lead pipe in the house, but it is not clear which
was the murder weapon. It is also unclear where in the house the murder
occurred. Under Kearns theory of the law, the jury cannot convict unless they
unanimously agree on the murder weapon and the room where the murder
occurred. But the holding of Richardson sets a lower bar than the rules of
Clue. The jury need only unanimously agree that (1) Peter murdered Paul,
(2) in the room of a house, (3) with a blunt household instrument. If the evidence
at trial persuades them of those elements, they may convict. They need not agree
unanimously on which room and weapon; the different weapons and rooms are
merely means of satisfying the statutory elements. If six jurors are persuaded it
happened in the library with a candlestick, and six jurors think it happened in the
observatory with a lead pipe, that would not vitiate the conviction. So too here.
E. Cumulative Error
Kearn argues the cumulative effect of the district courts errors rendered
analyzes whether their cumulative effect on the outcome of the trial is such that
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collectively they can no longer be determined to be harmless. United States v.
Toles, 297 F.3d 959, 972 (10th Cir. 2002). We have explained above why most of
Kearns putative errors were not, in fact, errors. Kearn adds two more errors in
disclosure requirement. In his view, once the government established that Agent
Casner and Detective Butler were trained to recognize child pornography, their
testimony that certain images were child pornography was expert testimony. But
we are not persuaded. Rule 701 does not permit a lay witness to express an
opinion as to matters which are beyond the realm of common experience and
which require the special skill and knowledge of an expert witness. Randolph v.
Collectramatic, Inc., 590 F.2d 844, 846 (10th Cir. 1979). But Rule 701 allows
lay witnesses to offer observations [that] are common enough and require . . . a
limited amount of expertise, if any. James River Ins. Co. v. Rapid Funding,
LLC, 658 F.3d 1207, 1214 (10th Cir. 2011). The testimony herethat child
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prejudicial. R., Vol. 2 at 406. To put this statement in context, the prosecutor
asked Detective Butler: What else did you do as part of your investigation? R.,
images I was very alarmed by it and realized this guy was a contact sex offender
Investigations in the USA and I referred the matter straight away. Id.
Evidence is relevant if (a) it has any tendency to make a fact more or less
probable than it would be without the evidence; and (b) the fact is of consequence
in determining the action. Fed. R. Evid. 401. This portion of the testimony,
taken as a whole, made it more probable that Kearn produced and distributed
consequence, since it forms the basis of two of the three charges of the
Nor was it prejudicial. Under Federal Rule of Evidence 403, [t]he court
implying that Kearn was a contact sex offender. But the governments entire
theory of the case was that Kearn was a contact sex offender. Any prejudice
Because this statement violated neither Rule 401 or 403, there was no error.
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Thus, the only possible error we have identified is the admission of the
hearsay evidence from the Loehrs Report. But [t]he purpose of cumulative error
harmless errors has the potential to prejudice a defendant to the same extent as a
single reversible error. United States v. Rogers, 556 F.3d 1130, 1144 (10th Cir.
2009) (emphasis added) (internal quotation marks omitted). Because we have not
noted, the evidence of Kearns guilt was overwhelming, and we doubt, even
absent any of Kearns alleged errors, the outcome of the trial would have been
different.
F. Supervised-Release Condition
supervised release is that he may have no contact with the victim of the offense,
i.e., his youngest daughter. Kearn has a 292-month (24 1/3 year) sentence, so his
youngest daughter will be over 30 years old by the time Kearn is released from
prison. Kearn objects to this condition, arguing the district court abused its
Kearn provides two reasons why this condition was improper. First, the
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familial association, and the district court did not have the requisite
compelling reason for interfering with this right. Aplt. Br. at 49 (quoting
United States v. Lonjose, 663 F.3d 1292, 1303 (10th Cir. 2011)).
But Kearn has waived this issue by failing to argue for plain error. Neither
colloquy). Generally, the failure to argue for plain error and its application on
appeal . . . marks the end of the road for an argument for reversal not first
presented to the district court. Richison v. Ernest Grp., Inc., 634 F.3d 1123,
to argue these points under the plain-error standard marks the end of the road. 4
III. Conclusion
For the reasons above, we AFFIRM the judgment and sentence of the
assistance of counsel.
4
It is worth noting that, like any special condition, the defendant can
petition the court based on changed circumstances at the time of his release.
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