Lawyer for Anti-Gay Christian Group Found Guilty in Child Porn Trial

A Manchester lawyer has been found guilty of exploiting a 14-year-old girl to produce child pornography.

Lisa Biron, 43, was accused of videotaping the girl having sex with two men. Biron faced eight federal indictments on charges of child sexual exploitation, transporting a child across state lines to produce child pornography and possession of child pornography, and was convicted on all of them after the jury deliberated for less than an hour.

The trial began Wednesday, with prosecutors calling to the stand two men who said Biron videotaped them having sex with the 14-year-old.

The final witness for the prosecution was an FBI agent who specializes in computer forensics. He testified that he retrieved pornographic images from a computer that had Biron listed as the owner. He said a confiscated iPhone also had a sexually explicit video involving the girl.

"It was difficult to present because you were presenting very graphic evidence to people who aren't exposed to this on a daily basis, but in terms of putting the case together, it was relatively easy because the evidence was created by the defendant herself, and it was video evidence that really does speak for itself," said U.S. Attorney John Kacavas.

A couple of phone calls recorded while Biron was in jail led off closing arguments for the government. In one call, Biron was heard talking to her father and saying of the 14-year-old girl that "she had a part in this."

Assistant U.S. Attorney Helen Fitzgibbon said the call is typical of Biron placing the blame for her problems on a young girl.

Fitzgibbon told the jury that this is a very straightforward case about a woman who used the girl as a sexual object and videotaped it. She said the evidence is clear that Biron took the girl to Canada to make the video and that she exploited the girl, encouraging her to drink, smoke marijuana and have sex.

"It was just very difficult, and I don't think I should say much more than that," said juror Peter Evans. "The evidence was pretty overwhelming, and the decision, I'm sure, was accurate."

The defense called no witnesses. Defense attorney James Moir told the jury things are not as clear as prosecutors claimed. He said the case is not about whether Biron is a good or bad person but rather, whether the government proved each element of the charges against her.

Biron was emotionless during the verdict, but her lawyer said she is devastated.

"Well, this was a tough case from the beginning, as I think everyone on all sides knew," Moir said. "And I'm disappointed, of course."

Biron's sentencing is scheduled for April. Prosecutors said they will ask for a lengthy prison sentence.