William W. “Billy” Hooper of Mathews has filed a motion in U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Virginia, asking that his recent convictions for child pornography and coercion and enticement be set aside.
Hooper was found guilty of the charges by a jury in September. His sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 9, 2021.
In asking the court to set aside the jury’s verdict, Hooper reiterates the arguments made during his trial—that the seizure of his two telephones was a violation of his rights, and that evidence regarding prior acts was wrongly admitted during the trial.
Hooper is also requesting that the court strike one count of coercion and enticement both because, he argued in the written motion, convicting him of both counts would violate the multiple punishment act of the double jeopardy clause of the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution and because the evidence of guilt was circumstantial and insufficient.
The motion was filed on Nov. 2. As of Nov. 10, the court had not filed a respon...