United States of America v. Landon Germiane

Salt Lake City, Utah criminal lawyer represented Defendant charged with child exploitation.



Landon Germaine, age 24, from Woods Cross, Utah, utilized social media and cellular applications such as Kik, Telegram, periscope, snapchat, and text messaging, to solicit graphic sexual photos and videos from minor children. A review of Germaine's electronic devices contained evidence of chats on various applications with numerous female children under eighteen years of age, and some chats with children as young as eleven years old. In these chats, Germaine provided specific instructions on what the minors should depict in the photos and videos and Germaine repeatedly offered to pay the minors money for sending him sexually explicit videos.



The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys from the District of Utah, the Western District of Arkansas, and Attorneys from the Department of Justice's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section. The cases were investigated by Special Agents from the FBI and officers and detectives from the Woods Cross Police Department, the Bentonville Police Department, the Rogers Police Department, and law enforcement officials from 14 additional U.S. judicial districts.



18:2251(a) and (e) SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF CHILDREN Attempted Sexual Exploitation of a Minor via the Production of Child Pornography

(1)

18:2422(b) COERCION OR ENTICEMENT OF FEMALE/MALE Online Enticement of a Minor

(2)

08/23/2022 Notice of Appearance. U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services hereby advises the Court that Stacey S. Hirata should be added to this case as to Landon Germaine (ssh) (Entered: 08/23/2022)

08/23/2022 8 Minute Entry for proceedings held before Judge Clark Waddoups: Initial Appearance as to Landon Germaine held on 8/23/2022. Attorney Appointment Hearing as to Landon Germaine held on 8/23/2022. Arraignment as to Landon Germaine (1) Count 1,2 held on 8/23/2022, Detention Hearing as to Landon Germaine held on 8/23/2022. Change of Plea Hearing as to Landon Germaine held on 8/23/2022.

Defendant, counsel, court, probation, and court reporter present by Zoom video conference. Indictment, charges, rights and penalties explained. Court appointed the Public Defender as counsel. Robert Hunt present and accepted for the Federal Public Defenders office. Defendant waived the formal reading of the Redacted Indictment.

Defendant sworn and answered questions posed by the Court to comply with Rule 11 of the FRCrP. Appeal rights advised. Statement in advance of Plea of Guilty executed and filed. Entire plea agreement is in writing. Defendant entered a Plea of GUILTY to Count 1 of the Indictment. Court accepted the plea as being knowingly, intelligently and voluntarily made.

Presentence Report ordered: Yes.

Court ordered a psychosexual examination.

Sentencing set for 1/5/2023 at 01:00 PM in US District Court-SLCU *virtual Court Via Zoom Conference* before Judge Clark Waddoups.

Defendant remanded to USMS custody.

Attorney for Plaintiff: Karin Fojtik, Carol Dain, Attorney for Defendant: Robert Hunt. Probation Officer: Stacey Hirata. Court Reporter: Kelly Hicken.(Time Start: 1:25, Time End: 1:40, Room Video Conference.) (asb) (Entered: 08/23/2022)

08/23/2022 9 ORDER FOR PSYCHOSEXUAL EXAM as to Landon Germaine. Signed by Judge Clark Waddoups on 8/23/22.(jrj) (Entered: 08/23/2022)

08/23/2022 10 STATEMENT IN ADVANCE OF PLEA as to Landon Germaine (asb) (Entered: 08/24/2022)