Novato Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Production of Child Pornography

Defendant Jonathan Hill Took Photographs and Videos While Exposing Himself to Young Girls

SAN FRANCISCO—Jonathan Hill was sentenced today to 15 years in prison and ordered to pay $20,000 in restitution for photographing himself masturbating and exposing himself to a 9-year-old girl in a Marinwood park, United States Attorney Melinda Haag announced.

Hill pleaded guilty on March 10, 2011, to one count of production of child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2251(a)(1). According to the plea agreement, Hill admitted to persuading a minor to assist him in making a sexually explicit video on March 17, 2010. Hill also admitted to persuading another minor to assist him in making a sexually explicit video five years earlier, on May 25, 2005. Hill came to the attention of Marin County Sheriff’s deputies on March 20, 2010, when a young girl reported that he had exposed himself to her near an elementary school. During Hill’s arrest, sheriff’s deputies found photos and videos on Hill’s iPhone that depicted him exposing himself to another young girl in a local park, whom deputies later learned was 9 years old.

Hill was indicted by a federal grand jury on April 6, 2010. He was charged with production of child pornography in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2251(a), receipt of child pornography in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252(a)(2), and possession of child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252(a)(4)(B). Under the plea agreement, Hill pled guilty to count one of the indictment, charging production of child pornography.

The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Court Judge Jeffrey S. White following a guilty plea to one count of production of child pornography in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2251(a). Judge White also sentenced the defendant to a 10-year period of supervised release and ordered him to pay restitution of $10,000 to each of his two victims. The defendant is currently in custody and will also face state charges in Marin County.

Owen Martikan is the Assistant U.S. Attorney who is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Rosario Calderon. The prosecution is the result of a collaborative effort involving FBI Special Agents Denise Biehn and David Carpluk and Marin County Sheriff’s Deputies Salma Tijero, Larry Matelli, Evan Kubota, and others.

Further Information:

Case #: CR 10-0261 JSW

A copy of this press release may be found on the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s website at usdoj.gov/usao/can.