LOUISVILLE, KY, October 17, 2025 — The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit has upheld the conviction of Joshua White, who was sentenced to twelve months and one day in prison for misprision of a felony related to possession of child pornography.
According to court records, Homeland Security Investigations agents linked an internet account at White’s residence to a hidden website on the Tor network known for distributing child sexual abuse material. A search warrant was issued in February 2021, and agents seized 29 electronic devices, later discovering multiple images of child pornography.
White filed motions to suppress the evidence and requested a Franks hearing, alleging that federal agents exceeded the scope of the warrant and included false statements in the affidavit. The appellate court found that investigators acted within the warrant’s authority and that the search did not violate the Fourth Amendment, even when conducted over several years as technology advanced.
The panel also ruled that White failed to make the necessary showing for a Franks hearing, noting that his claims were unsupported by affidavits or evidence and consisted of conclusory allegations.
The Sixth Circuit affirmed the judgment of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky, which previously denied White’s motions and accepted his guilty plea to misprision of a felony.
