San Diego

Navy MPO Found Guilty of Producing Child Porn, Enticing Minor

The Sailor allegedly met the victim by posing on an app intended for teens

A San Diego-based U.S. Navy military police officer accused of sexually assaulting a teenage girl he met on a social networking app for minors was found guilty.

According to the U.S. Attorney's office, Isaiah Smallwood-Jackson posed as a teenager on the "SpotaFriend" app, created for minors between 13 and 19, and began a conversation with a 14-year-old girl.

Communicating through the app, Smallwood-Jackson told the girl he was 21 and that he didn't she was a minor.

A Federal complaint filed last year alleges that Smallwood-Jackson exchanged cell phone numbers with the teen and convinced her to send him sexually explicit photos and share her address.

The teen repeatedly told Smallwood-Jackson she wasn't sure about meeting up with him but he told her to "take a leap of faith."

After she agreed, he went to her house and engaged in sexual activity with her, the U.S. Attorney's office said.

In text messages following the encounter, Smallwood-Jackson apologized to the victim for hurting her.

The victim reportedly disclosed the event to her sister who reported it to law enforcement.

Smallwood-Jackson was found guilty by a jury of production of child pornography and enticement of a minor. The mandatory minimum sentence for the convictions are 15 and 10 years, respectively, in prison.

β€œInternet predators beware: the Department of Justice is committed to striking back against repugnant crimes against innocent children," U.S. Attorney Adam Braverman said. β€œNo child should ever have to endure sexual abuse. The United States will utilize every tool available to it to hold these predators accountable.”

Smallwood-Jackson is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 28.

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