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Date: 02-06-2021

Case Style:

United States of America v. Johnathan Scott Mason

Case Number: 5:20-cr-00069-KKC-MAS

Judge: Karen Caldwell

Court: United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky (Urban County)

Plaintiff's Attorney: United States District Attorney’s Office

Defendant's Attorney:


Criminal Defense Lawyer Directory


Description: Lexington, Kentucky production of child pornography charge criminal defense lawyer represented Defendant, Johnathan Scott Mason, age 27.

In March 2020, law enforcement officers became aware of Mason’s activity on the social media application, Kik. On this app, Mason expressed a sexual interest in children and said that he had sexually explicit images of minors that he had produced. Mason admitted that he used a minor victim to produce visual depictions of the minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct and that the depictions were then transported using the Internet.

Mason was indicted in July 2020.

The investigation was conducted by Department of Homeland Security-HSI and KSP-Electronic Crimes Branch. The U.S. Attorney’s Office was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Marye.

Mason is scheduled to be sentenced on April 7, 2021. He faces a minimum of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years in prison, in addition to a maximum $250,000 fine. However, any sentence will be imposed by the Court, after its consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal sentencing statutes.

This case was prosecuted 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 the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (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 www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

18:2251(a) USE OF A MINOR TO ENGAGE IN SEXUALLY EXPLICIT CONDUCT FOR THE PURPOSE OF PRODUCING A VISUAL DEPICTION
(1)
18:2252(a)(2) DISTRIBUTION OF VISUAL DEPICTIONS OF MINORS ENGAGED IN SEXUALLY EXPLICIT CONDUCT
(2-3)
18:2252(a)(4)(B) POSSESSION OF MATTER CONTAINING VISUAL DEPICTIONS OF MINORS ENGAGED IN SEXUALLY EXPLICIT CONDUCT
(4)

Outcome: 01/26/2021 36 MINUTE ENTRY for REARRAIGNMENT as to Johnathan Scott Mason held on 1/26/2021 before Judge Karen K. Caldwell: Rachel Diane Yavelak appeared as Appointed CJA counsel of record; copy of indictment previously provided to dft; dft states true name is as stated; dft formally arr and advised of rights; dft moves to CHANGE PLEA, Court grants motion; dft pleads guilty to Count 1; dft agrees with facts contained in forfeiture allegation; CONDITIONAL PLEA AGREEMENT filed in the record; Jury Trial previously SET ASIDE & CANCELED as to this dft; Court orders PSR; dft remanded to custody; SENTENCING set for 4/7/2021 at 12:30 PM in LEXINGTON before Judge Karen K. Caldwell; Court finds dft fully competent and capable, plea is entered knowingly and voluntarily; plea is accepted and dft adjudged guilty. (Court Reporter Elaine Haberer.) (JJ)cc: COR,USM,USP,D (Entered: 01/26/2021)
01/26/2021 37 CONDITIONAL PLEA AGREEMENT as to Johnathan Scott Mason. cc: COR,USP (JJ) (Entered: 01/26/2021)
01/26/2021 38 ORDER as to Johnathan Scott Mason to comply with Sentencing Reform Act. Signed by Judge Karen K. Caldwell on 1/26/2021. (GLD)cc: COR,USM,USP (Entered: 01/26/2021)

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