United States v. X-Citement Video, Inc.

513 U.S. 64 (1994)

Facts

The PCASEA prohibits any person who knowingly transports or ships in interstate transportation, shipping, receipt, distribution, or reproduction, visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Rubin Gottesman owned and operated X-Citement Video (D). Police uncovered under-age pornographic films of Traci Lords before she was 18. Gottesman was unaware of Lords' age. The Court of Appeals reversed the convictions of Ds. It held that the act did not require that D know that one of the performers was a minor and that it was therefore facially unconstitutional. The Supreme Court granted certiorari.