Iowa Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing Obscene Visual Representations of the Sexual Abuse of Children

WASHINGTON—Christopher Handley, 39, of Glenwood, Iowa, pleaded guilty today in Des Moines, Iowa, to possessing obscene visual representations of the sexual abuse of children and mailing obscene material, Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Matthew G. Whitaker of the Southern District of Iowa announced. 

According to court documents, in May 2006, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) intercepted a mail package coming into the United States from Japan that was addressed to Handley.  Inside the package was obscene material, including books containing visual representations of the sexual abuse of children, specifically Japanese manga drawings of minor females being sexually abused by adult males and animals.  Pursuant to a search warrant, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) searched and seized additional obscene drawings of the sexual abuse of children at Handley’s residence in Glenwood.  Handley was indicted by a grand jury sitting in the Southern District of Iowa in May 2007. 

Pursuant to his plea agreement, Handley today pleaded guilty to one count of possessing obscene visual representations of the sexual abuse of children in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1466A(b)(1), which prohibits the possession of any type of visual depiction, including a drawing, cartoon, sculpture, or painting, that depicts a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct that is obscene. 

Handley also agreed to plead guilty to one count of mailing obscene material and to forfeit all seized property.  Handley faces a maximum of 15 years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and a three-year term of supervised release.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig Peyton Gaumer and Elizabeth M. Yusi of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section.  The case is being investigated by USPIS, ICE and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.  In addition, the FBI’s Language Services Section has provided significant assistance in the prosecution.