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Handley to Be Sentenced for 'Obscene' Manga in January

The ICv2 retail news source reports that Christopher Handley is scheduled to be sentenced on January 25 for possessing manga "drawings of children being sexually abused." The Iowa man faces up to 15 years in prison and a US$250,000 fine. Federal Judge James E. Gritzner is presiding over the case in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa. On July 30, the court gave notice that two computers and "approximately seven books of Japanese manga, including but not limited to any and all books, materials and visual depictions" which had been seized from Handley were forfeited for disposal.

Handley was accused of receiving and possessing obscene material — as opposed to child pornography — via the United States Postal Service in May of 2006. In particular, he was accused of having "books containing visual representations of the sexual abuse of children, specifically Japanese manga drawings of minor females being sexually abused by adult males and animals" Judge Gritzner struck down some of the charges against Handley and ruled parts of the PROTECT Act of 2003 unconstitutional for restricting free speech. However, Handley still faced charges for possession of obscene material because it was "moved in interstate commerce," and his defense had been negotiating a guilty plea for a possible lighter sentence.

This past May, Handley pleaded guilty under "Title 18, United States Code, Section 1466A(b)(1), which prohibits the possession of any type of visual depiction, including a drawing, cartoon, sculpture, or painting, that depicts a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct that is obscene." He also pleaded guilty to one count of mailing obscene material, and he agreed to forfeit all seized property.