United States v. Kearns

UNITED STATES, Appellee

v.

Christopher R. KEARNS, Specialist
U.S. Army, Appellant

No. 13-0565

Crim. App. No. 20110348

United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces

Argued January 14, 2014

Decided March 21, 2014

OHLSON, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which BAKER,
C.J., and ERDMANN, STUCKY, and RYAN, JJ., joined.

Counsel

For Appellant: Captain Ian M. Guy (argued); Colonel Kevin
Boyle, Lieutenant Colonel Peter Kageleiry Jr., and Major Vincent
T. Shuler (on brief); Major Jacob D. Bashore and Captain A.
Jason Nef.

For Appellee: Captain Samuel Gabremariam (argued); Colonel John
P. Carrell, Lieutenant Colonel James L. Varley, and Major
Catherine L. Brantley (on brief); Captain Jessica J. Morales.

Military Judge: David H. Robertson

This opinion is subject to revision before final publication.
United States v. Kearns, No. 13-0565/AR

Judge OHLSON delivered the opinion of the Court.

We granted review in this case to determine whether the

evidence adduced at trial was legally sufficient to prove that,

under the provisions of 18 U.S.C. § 2423(a) (2006), Appellant

had the requisite intent to engage in criminal sexual activity

with a minor when Appellant facilitated that minor’s travel in

interstate commerce. We hold that the evidence of Appellant’s

intent was legally sufficient, and thus we affirm his conviction

under Specification 1 of Charge III.

During the relevant time period, Appellant was a twenty-

two-year-old soldier stationed at Fort Bliss, Texas. In both

November and December of 2009, while Appellant was home on leave

in Pennsylvania, he had sexual intercourse with K.O. K.O. was

fifteen years old at the time and Appellant knew she was a

minor. When Appellant returned to Fort Bliss, Appellant and

K.O. stayed in contact via text messages and phone calls.

At some point in their relationship, K.O. falsely told

Appellant that she had been sexually assaulted by a family

member. Thereafter, in January 2010, Appellant paid a female

friend to transport K.O. from Pennsylvania to Texas. However,

before the friend and K.O. (along with another minor female)

reached the Fort Bliss area, they were stopped by Texas law

enforcement for a traffic violation. The police determined that

K.O. and the other young female were minors and possible

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runaways. Pursuant to the ensuing investigation, Appellant was

charged at his court-martial with making a false official

statement, aggravated sexual assault of a child, wrongful

transportation of a minor through interstate commerce,

disorderly conduct, and adultery, in violation of Articles 107,

120, and 134, Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), 10 U.S.C.

§§ 907, 920, 934 (2006).

At trial, Appellant argued that his purpose in facilitating

K.O.’s travel across state lines was to remove her from a

sexually abusive environment. However, contrary to his pleas, a

panel of officers sitting as a general court-martial convicted

Appellant of all charges and specifications except the adultery

specification. The panel sentenced Appellant to confinement for

four years, reduction to the grade of E-1, forfeiture of all pay

and allowances, and a bad-conduct discharge. The convening

authority approved the sentence as adjudged.

Upon review, the United States Army Court of Criminal

Appeals set aside the disorderly conduct conviction, but it

affirmed the remaining charges and specifications as well as the

sentence. United States v. Kearns, 72 M.J. 586, 589 (A. Ct.

Crim. App. 2013). On Appellant’s petition we granted review.

Central to our analysis of this case is a determination of

the meaning of 18 U.S.C. § 2423(a) which prohibits a person from

knowingly transporting a minor in interstate commerce “with

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intent” to engage in criminal sexual activity. Appellant urges

this Court to hold that the phrase “with intent” required the

Government to prove that Appellant’s “dominant,” “predominant,”

“significant,” or “efficient and compelling” reason for

transporting K.O. across states lines was to have sex with her,

and to further hold that the Government failed to meet this

burden at trial. We decline to do so. Rather, we hold that as

long as illegal sexual activity is a purpose for transporting a

minor across state lines, and is not merely incidental to the

travel, the intent element of 18 U.S.C. § 2423(a) is met. We

further hold that the Government met its burden in proving the

necessary intent in this case, and that the mens rea of intent

coincided with the actus reus of crossing state lines.

Therefore, for the reasons set forth below, we affirm

Appellant’s conviction.

BACKGROUND

Appellant and K.O. grew up in the same small town in

Pennsylvania and had known each other for many years. In fact,

Appellant’s brother was married to K.O.’s sister, and K.O. lived

with the couple. During the time period relevant to this case,

Appellant was twenty-two years old and K.O. was a fifteen-year-

old minor.

In late 2009, while Appellant was home on leave at

Thanksgiving, he and K.O. started spending a lot of time

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together. Ultimately, Appellant had sexual intercourse with

K.O. Before Appellant returned to his duty station at Fort

Bliss, Texas, he bought K.O. a phone so that they could stay in

contact.

Over the next several weeks, Appellant and K.O. talked by

telephone every day. During one conversation, K.O. told

Appellant that Appellant’s brother had sexually assaulted her in

the past.1 Appellant discussed this situation with K.O. for

several hours, but at no time did he urge her to report the

sexual assaults to a school official, to call the police, or to

move out of the house.2

In December 2009, Appellant again was home on leave, but he

took no steps to help K.O. remove herself from the allegedly

abusive situation at home. However, Appellant did have sexual

intercourse with K.O. again. In one instance he climbed up a

ladder-type porch railing to K.O.’s second-story bedroom window

1
K.O. later admitted that the allegations of sexual abuse were
false. She said that she lied because she wanted an excuse to
run away to Texas and continue her relationship with Appellant.
2
The precise timing of this conversation is not apparent in the
record. The Appellant said in a sworn statement that K.O. made
these false allegations of sexual abuse in December 2009.
However, trial testimony from a friend of Appellant’s suggests
that the allegations did not become publicly known until January
2010 (although this witness did not address when Appellant first
became aware of the allegations). Further, trial testimony from
K.O. does not state clearly when she first made the allegations.
Ultimately, the outcome of this case is not dependent on the
exact timing of this particular conversation.

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at approximately three o’clock in the morning, and in another

instance he had sex with K.O. in a car.

When his leave was over, Appellant returned to Fort Bliss.

He continued to speak to K.O. every day, and the two regularly

ended their calls with “I love you.” Further, K.O. sent a text

message to Appellant with a photo of her naked breast.

Appellant did not tell K.O. that the photo was inappropriate,

nor did he ask her to stop sending him this type of material.

At some point during this time period, Appellant spoke to

his brother and asked him if K.O.’s sexual assault allegations

were true. Appellant’s brother assured him that they were not.

Nevertheless, K.O. began telling Appellant that she was

considering running away from home or committing suicide.

In January 2010, Appellant talked to a female friend about

K.O.’s situation. Although this woman was married to another

soldier, she had an ongoing sexual relationship with Appellant

and was a local stripper. This woman agreed to bring K.O. to

Texas and have K.O. stay with her. Appellant eventually paid

her more than $700 for this service.

At the end of January 2010, as Appellant’s friend drove

home from a family trip to New York, she picked up K.O. and

another female minor in Pennsylvania. When Appellant’s friend

reached Texas, she was pulled over by local police for a traffic

violation. The police determined that K.O. and the other female

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minor were possible runaways and launched an investigation that

resulted in the instant charges.3

As this case unfolded, Appellant admitted that he had

engaged in sexual intercourse with K.O., but averred that he was

drunk each time and that K.O. initiated the sexual encounters.

Appellant also stated that his purpose in paying to have K.O.

brought to Texas was to protect her from future sexual abuse by

his brother, and that prior to K.O.’s departure from

Pennsylvania the two of them had agreed that they would no

longer engage in sexual activity until K.O. reached eighteen

years of age.

DISCUSSION

Appellant argues that the evidence against him was not

legally sufficient to sustain his conviction.4 We review such

challenges to the legal sufficiency of the evidence de novo.

3
At issue in this case is Specification 1 of Charge III, in
which Appellant was charged under clause 3 of Article 134, UCMJ,
with violating 18 U.S.C. § 2423(a), which prohibits the
transportation of minors in interstate commerce with intent to
engage in criminal sexual activity.
4
We granted review of the following issue:

Whether the evidence was legally sufficient to prove that
Appellant had the intent to engage in criminal sexual
conduct with KO, a minor, when he facilitated KO’s travel
in interstate commerce and was found guilty in
Specification 1 of Charge III of violating 18 U.S.C.
section 2423(a).

United States v. Kearns, 73 M.J. __ (C.A.A.F. 2013) (order
granting review).

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United States v. Bennitt, 72 M.J. 266, 268 (C.A.A.F. 2013).

“The standard for determining the legal sufficiency of evidence

supporting a guilty verdict is ‘whether, after viewing the

evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, any

rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements

of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.’” United States v.

Mack, 65 M.J. 108, 114 (C.A.A.F. 2007) (quoting Jackson v.

Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 318-19 (1979)).

We begin our review by noting that Appellant was charged

under clause 3 of Article 134, UCMJ, with violating 18 U.S.C.

§ 2423(a), which states in pertinent part:

A person who knowingly transports an individual who
has not attained the age of 18 years in interstate or
foreign commerce . . . with intent that the individual
engage in prostitution, or in any sexual activity for
which any person can be charged with a criminal
offense, shall be fined under this title and
imprisoned not less than 10 years or for life.

18 U.S.C. § 2423(a).5

Although Appellant did not have sex with K.O. after she was

5
The criminal sexual activity in this case consisted of intended
violations of Article 120, UCMJ, specifically aggravated sexual
assault of a child and aggravated sexual contact with a child.
Article 120(d), (g), UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 920(d), (g) (2006)
(amended by National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year
2006, Pub. L. 109-163, 119 Stat. 3136, 3257 (2006)) (the
punitive articles under which Appellant was charged have been
replaced or superseded by Article 120b, UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 920b
(2012)). Texas statutes also criminalize the act of sexual
contact or sexual intercourse with a person between the ages of
fourteen and seventeen by someone more than three years older.
Tex. Penal Code Ann. §§ 21.11, 22.011 (West 2014).

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transported across state lines, there is no requirement under

this statute that the intended unlawful sexual activity actually

occurred. United States v. Vargas-Cordon, 733 F.3d 366, 375–76

(2d Cir. 2013) (quoting United States v. Broxmeyer, 616 F.3d

120, 129 n.8 (2d Cir. 2010)). Rather, all that is required is

“that the mens rea of intent coincide[d] with the actus reus of

crossing state lines.” Broxmeyer, 616 F.3d at 129.

In regard to this mens rea element, Appellant argues that

the evidence adduced at trial failed to demonstrate that he

possessed the level of intent required to sustain a conviction

under the provisions of 18 U.S.C. § 2423(a). Specifically,

Appellant asserts that the Government was required to prove that

his “dominant,” “predominant,” “significant,” or “efficient and

compelling” reason for transporting K.O. across state lines was

to engage in criminal sexual activity, but the Government failed

to do so.

In furtherance of his argument, Appellant states that the

Government placed undue emphasis on the significance of his

prior sexual history with K.O. He first claims that K.O.

initiated each sexual contact with Appellant while he was drunk,

and he then alleges that, prior to her departure from

Pennsylvania, K.O. and Appellant had agreed that they would no

longer engage in sexual activity until K.O. turned eighteen.

Appellant also points to the fact that he permitted another

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minor female, who was K.O.’s friend and who also claimed she had

been suffering from abuse at home, to accompany K.O. on the trip

from Pennsylvania to Texas. Appellant argues this fact

demonstrates that his dominant motive in this enterprise was

simply to assure both girls’ safety.

In examining the merits of Appellant’s argument, we must

first focus on the proper meaning of the phrase “with intent” as

it is used in § 2423(a). This is a question of first impression

for this Court. However, it is axiomatic that “[i]n determining

the scope of a statute, we look first to its language.” United

States v. Turkette, 452 U.S. 576, 580 (1981). Where the

language of the statute is clear and “Congress has directly

spoken to the precise question at issue,” we must “give effect

to the unambiguously expressed intent of Congress.” Chevron

U.S.A., Inc. v. Natural Res. Def. Council, Inc., 467 U.S. 837,

842-43 (1984). As further stated by the Supreme Court, “It is

well established that ‘when the statute’s language is plain, the

sole function of the courts -- at least where the disposition

required by the text is not absurd -- is to enforce it according

to its terms.’” Lamie v. United States Tr., 540 U.S. 526, 534

(2004) (quoting Hartford Underwriters Ins. Co. v. Union Planters

Bank, N.A., 530 U.S. 1, 6 (2000)) (internal quotation marks and

citations omitted). There is no rule of statutory construction

that allows for a court to append additional language as it sees

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fit. Fides, A.G., v. Comm’r, 137 F.2d 731, 734–35 (4th Cir.

1943) (“[C]ourts should be extremely cautious not to add words

to a statute that are not found in the statute.”).

Despite these rules of construction, various federal courts

have added their own requirements to the statutory language of

§ 2423(a). For example, both the United States Courts of

Appeals for the Second Circuit and the Ninth Circuit require the

prosecution to show that illegal sexual activity was one of the

“dominant purposes” of the transportation of the minor. Vargas-

Cordon, 733 F.3d at 375–76; United States v. Kinslow, 860 F.2d

963, 967–68 (9th Cir. 1988). The United States Courts of

Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and the Tenth Circuit require

instead that the illegal sexual activity be “one of the

efficient and compelling purposes of the travel.” United States

v. Hitt, 473 F.3d 146, 152 (5th Cir. 2006) (citation and

internal quotation marks omitted); United States v. Meacham, 115

F.3d 1488, 1495 (10th Cir. 1997). The United States Court of

Appeals for the Third Circuit, in United States v. Hayward,

allowed yet another formulation. 359 F.3d 631, 638 (3d Cir.

2004). The Hayward court ruled that it was not error for the

trial court to use a jury instruction with the language “a

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significant or motivating purpose of the travel.” Id. (internal

quotation marks omitted).6

We do not adopt any of these approaches. First and

foremost, “dominant,” “efficient and compelling,” “significant,”

and “motivating” are not terms found in the text of § 2423(a).

And second, other circuits have not added the same or similar

modifiers to the statutory language when they have examined this

issue. Rather, these appellate courts have held that the

illegal sexual conduct referred to in § 2423(a) must simply be

“one of the purposes” for the interstate transportation. See

United States v. Goodwin, 719 F.3d 857, 862 (8th Cir. 2013);

United States v. Tavares, 705 F.3d 4, 17 (1st Cir. 2013); United

States v. Hoschouer, 224 F. App’x 923, 926 (11th Cir. 2007);

6
These approaches to § 2423 are likely based on language from
the Supreme Court’s decision in Mortensen v. United States, 322
U.S. 369 (1944). In that case the defendant was charged under
the original Mann Act (enacted in 1910), which prohibited the
transportation of women across state lines “for the purpose of”
illegal sexual activity. Act of June 25, 1910, § 2, 36 Stat.
825 (1910) (amended 1986). In Mortensen, the Supreme Court said
that the “for the purpose of” provision meant the illegal sexual
activity must be the “dominant motive” of the interstate
movement. 322 U.S. at 374. Then, in 1986, Congress not only
created § 2423(a), which is at issue in the instant case, but
also recodified the Mann Act at § 2421. Importantly, Congress
also replaced the “for the purpose of” language in § 2421 with
the phrase “with intent that,” thereby making the standard of
intent identical in both sections. 18 U.S.C. §§ 2421, 2423(a)
(2012). However, the bottom line is that the “dominant motive”
standard enunciated in Mortensen was based on different
statutory language than that in issue in this case. Therefore,
we do not rely on the “dominant motive” standard enunciated in
Mortensen in reaching our decision.

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United States v. Cole, 262 F.3d 704, 709 (8th Cir. 2001); United

States v. Bennett, 364 F.2d 77, 78–79 & n.4 (4th Cir. 1966).7 We

agree with this approach.

Simply stated, § 2423(a) is clear on its face, and thus we

decline to graft additional modifiers onto it. Accordingly, we

hold that the proper reading of § 2423(a) is that as long as the

illegal sexual activity is a purpose of the transportation

across state lines, and not merely incidental to the travel, the

intent element of § 2423(a) is met. Thus, contrary to

Appellant’s argument, § 2423(a) does not require any showing of

“sole purpose,” “dominant motive,” or a “significant,” or

“efficient and compelling” reason.

As a result, as long as the above-mentioned mens rea of

intent coincided with the actus reus of crossing state lines,

there has been a violation of the statute. Broxmeyer, 616 F.3d

at 129. In this case there was sufficient evidence to establish

both. This is particularly true in light of the fact that, when

reviewing for legal sufficiency, “this Court is bound to draw

every reasonable inference from the evidence of record in favor

of the prosecution,” United States v. Blocker, 32 M.J. 281, 284

(C.M.A. 1991), and the Government was free to prove Appellant’s

intent by circumstantial evidence. Brooks v. United States, 309

7
See also United States v. McGuire, 627 F.3d 622, 624–25 (7th
Cir. 2010) (raising questions about the logic of the “dominant
purpose” test).

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F.2d 580, 583 (10th Cir. 1962) (“The conduct of the parties

within a reasonable time before and after the trip are

circumstances which a jury may consider in determining such

intent, motive or purpose.” (citing Dunn v. United States, 190

F.2d 496 (10th Cir. 1951))).

The record in this case shows: that Appellant had sexual

intercourse with K.O. on at least two occasions in the two

months prior to the point when he orchestrated her

transportation across state lines; that Appellant went so far as

to climb in the second-story window of K.O.’s bedroom in order

to have sex with her; that shortly before the trip K.O. sent

Appellant a photo of her naked breast and Appellant did not

object to this action; that Appellant paid a stripper with whom

he had a sexual relationship a substantial sum of money to

transport K.O. to Texas; and that Appellant planned to have K.O.

live near him. These are all facts that the panel could have

considered and relied upon in reaching its decision that

Appellant transported K.O. across state lines “with intent” to

engage in illegal sexual activity with her.

Accordingly, we hold that there was sufficient evidence for

the panel to conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that Appellant

facilitated the transportation of a minor across state lines

with intent that she engage in criminal sexual activity in

violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2423(a).

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DECISION

The decision of the United States Army Court of Criminal

Appeals is affirmed.

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