No. 24-7490

Clint Robert Schram v. United States

Lower Court: Eighth Circuit
Docketed: 2025-06-24
Status: Denied
Type: IFP
Response WaivedIFP Experienced Counsel
Tags: child-pornography criminal-evidence due-process minor-exploitation sentencing-standards uncharged-misconduct
Latest Conference: 2025-09-29
Question Presented (AI Summary)

Whether the government must prove images of child pornography depict actual minors and whether the introduction of uncharged pornographic images unduly prejudiced the defendant

Question Presented (from Petition)

Mr. Schram created and administered four websites which facilitated the distribution of child pornography. The government charged him with engaging in a child exploitation enterprise, and advertisement of child pornography. Those offenses include the element that an actual minor or minors be inv olved in the offense. But the government presented no evidence that the images represented actual minors. In addition, over objection , the government presented numerous child pornography image s, both found on links from the websites and on Mr. Schram’s separate computer which w as not connected to the websites. Mr. Schram was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment. The Eighth Circuit affirmed. The case thus presents the following questions: I. Given the increasing ease of creating of artificial images, is the government required to present evidence that the images it contends are of minors represent actual persons ? II. Where evidence was presented that Mr. Schram admitted administering websites for the presentation of child pornography, was he unduly prejudiced when the government presented evidence of multiple highly offensive pornographic images , including uncharged misconduct evidence not linked to the websites ?

Docket Entries

2025-10-06
Petition DENIED.
2025-07-10
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 9/29/2025.
2025-07-08
Waiver of United States of right to respond submitted.
2025-07-08
Waiver of right of respondent United States to respond filed.
2025-06-18
Petition for a writ of certiorari and motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed. (Response due July 24, 2025)

Attorneys

Clint Schram
Elizabeth Unger CarlyleCarlyle Parish LLC, Petitioner
Elizabeth Unger CarlyleCarlyle Parish LLC, Petitioner
United States
D. John SauerSolicitor General, Respondent
D. John SauerSolicitor General, Respondent
Moez Mansoor KabaHueston Hennigan LLP, Respondent