Gonzales Woman Charged with Child Exploitation Offenses

A federal grand jury recently returned a four-count indictment charging Hannah Kinchen, age 39, of Gonzales, Louisiana, with conspiracy to produce child pornography, production of child pornography, conspiracy to distribute child pornography, and distribution of child pornography.  Kinchen appeared for her arraignment and pled not guilty to the pending charges.

According to the indictment, between approximately July of 2020 and at least October of 2020, Kinchen conspired with others to produce and distribute child pornography.  If convicted of these charges, Kinchen faces a statutory maximum penalty of 30 years imprisonment.

This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kristen Lundin Craig and Trial Attorney Charles Schmitz of the Department of Justice’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (“CEOS”).

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice.  Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc.

NOTE: An indictment is an accusation by a grand jury.  The defendant is presumed innocent until and unless adjudicated guilty at trial or through a guilty plea.