Hepburn and James Marsh, a New York attorney who represents a victim in another popular child pornography collection, known as the “Misty” series, have filed dozens of requests for restitution against child pornography defendants nationwide, including several defendants who were prosecuted in the Middle District of Pennsylvania.
In December, U.S. District Judge John Jones ruled that the victim in the “Misty” series, who was sexually abused by an uncle at age 8, was entitled to restitution from Michael Brown of Lebanon County. In March, U.S. District Judge Christopher Connor also ordered Ronald Barkley of Harrisburg to pay damages to the “Misty” victim.
Federal judges in other states have split on the issue. The “Misty” victim has sought restitution in 22 cases nationwide, according to court papers filed by the U.S. Attorney’s office in Brown’s case. Of those, 15 have been granted and seven have been denied.
In both the “Vicky” and “Misty” cases, Hepburn and Marsh have sought damages for the emotional trauma, as well as the cost of past and future counseling and lost wages the women have suffered due to their difficulties in overcoming the trauma to establish a normal life. The amount of the awards has varied greatly, from nominal amounts to hundreds of thousands of dollars.