North Royalton man faces child pornography charges

A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment charging Shawn L. Hicks, 20, of North Royalton, with receiving, distributing, and accessing with intent to view visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, said Carole S. Rendon, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio. 

The indictment alleges that from on or about September 5, 2014, through on or about July 15, 2015, Hicks knowingly received and distributed numerous computer files that contained visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.  The indictment also alleges that from on or about December 19, 2014, through on or about March 4, 2015, Hicks knowingly accessed with intent to view on his computer visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, to include at least one image involving a prepubescent minor or a minor who had not attained 12 years of age.

Assistant United States Attorney Megan R. Miller is prosecuting the case following an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.   

If convicted, the court will determine the defendant’s sentence after a review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violation.  In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum.  In most cases, it will be less than the maximum.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.