NOT GUILTY

United States v. R. M., United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia at Alexandria.    

     Mr. R.M. was charged in federal court with Solicitation of a Minor after engaging in an on line chat with an undercover agent posing as a father prostituting his 14 year old daughter.  Mr. R.M. was arrested at a McDonald's restaurant after driving nearly 100 miles from Maryland to Virginia to meet who he thought was the young girl's father.  After being arrested, the FBI searched R.M's car and computer and discovered, among other things, substantial evidence of child pornography.  Facing a minimum of 10 years in federal prison if convicted, Mr. R.M argued that he did not truly believe the girl was 14 years old and, despite the child pornography found on his computer, did not intend to have a sexual encounter with a minor.  After a two day trial, R.M was found Not Guilty and was released back to his wife and family.