Stefani Stevens of Yucaipa was found guilty of producing and distributing child pornography Nov. 1.
Stevens had admitted to taking photos of a minor’s private parts, and sending the photo to others, when talking with law enforcement Nov. 8, 2019, according to the complaint against her.
Stevens appeared to be friends with the girl’s parents, and would text them about mutual friends and getting dinner together, court records show. The minor’s mother dropped the minor off with Stevens, by the intersection of Calimesa Boulevard and County Line Road, for babysitting.
The girl was younger than 12 years old.
Stevens also admitted to viewing child pornography for two years before the talk with law enforcement, and admitted to sharing and receiving child pornography with others online. She was charged with taking photos of two victims.
Law enforcement found at least six sexually explicit photos Stevens had taken of the girl, and she admitted to taking eight to 10 images. She said she took them to share with a person online.
She had told the minor she saw a rash, and that the photos were for a doctor to examine.
The Department of Homeland Security began investigating Stevens’ account after the online messaging app she used to share the pornography, Kik, reported her account to the police.
The verdict found Stevens guilty of obtaining custody of a minor with the intent to produce child pornography, six counts of production of child pornography, one count of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.
Stevens’ counsel argued in a brief that the government failed to prove that Stevens created the photos, and that one of the minors’ fathers, who shared access to Stevens’ photos on iCloud, should have also been investigated.
Case No. 5:19-cr-00377
California Central District Judge Virginia Phillips presided.
Paul Levers, Robert Trisotto and Sonah Lee of the US Attorney’s Office prosecuted.
Federal Public Defenders Howard Shneider and Ijeoma Eke defended.
Read the criminal complaint here.
Read the jury verdict here.
