Pikeville, KY — A South Carolina man admitted in federal court Friday that he knowingly produced and received child pornography. 34-year-old Jonathan Edward Manigault pleaded guilty to one count of production of child pornography and one count of knowingly receiving child pornography, before U.S. District Judge Karen K. Caldwell. Manigault admitted he directed Christina B. Mitchell, of Pike County, to take photographs of a 3-year-old victim, engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Manigault provided Mitchell with specific, detailed instructions on what types of explicit photographs to produce and provide. According to the plea agreement, Mitchell transmitted the photographs of the minor to Manigault using the Facebook Messenger application. After receipt, Manigault had Mitchell agree to produce additional images of underage victims. Manigault and Mitchell were indicted on October 24, 2018. Mitchell pleaded guilty to two counts of producing child pornography on August 26, 2019. According to her plea agreement, Mitchell produced sexually explicit images of a 3-year-old and 8-year-old victims. Mitchell’s and Manigault’s sentencing hearings are scheduled for December 16, 2019, in Pikeville. Mitchell faces up to 60 years in prison and Manigault faces up to 50 years in prison. Both defendants face a maximum fine of $250,000. However, any sentence will be imposed by the Court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal sentencing statutes.
