KEITH, Circuit Judge.

Defendant Greg Moore ("Moore") appeals from the district court's December 8, 1989 judgment and commitment orders finding him guilty of knowingly receiving, through the United States mail, a video tape containing visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. For the reasons stated below, we AFFIRM and REMAND.

I. A.

On April 12, 1989, Moore was indicted by the Federal Grand Jury of the Middle District of Tennessee. In a single count, the indictment charged Moore with knowingly receiving a video tape containing visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, as defined by 18 U.S.C. § 2256. The video tape was transported, through the United States mail, from the seller, who was located in Nashville, Tennessee, to Moore, the buyer who resided in Corryton, Tennessee, all in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252(a)(2).

Moore filed a motion to dismiss on July 27, 1989, alleging entrapment, outrageous government conduct, lack of predisposition, and the inapplicability of § 2252 to a single act of ordering child pornography. After receiving the Government's response and conducting a hearing on August 28, 1989, the district court denied Moore's motion to dismiss on September 8, 1989.

On September 12, 1989, the trial date, the parties filed a plea agreement with the district court. The district court, however, did not accept the plea:

THE COURT: I'm not going to accept this 11(E)(1)(C) [sic] on the day of trial. Today is the day appointed to dispose of the case. We are here, the venire is here, ready to select a jury. And it's a matter of either trying the case or otherwise, whatever your choice may be, today is the date we are supposed to dispose of the case.

Joint Appendix at 129 (hereinafter "J.A."). The district court initiated the trial as originally scheduled and, on September 15, 1989, the jury returned a guilty verdict. Moore remained free on bond until he was sentenced, on December 8, 1989, to fifteen months of incarceration, followed by three years of supervised release.

Moore filed a timely notice of appeal on December 21, 1989.

B.

In early 1988, Moore, a married, twenty-nine year old bank employee, purchased a copy of Adult Video News, an adult publication which lists individuals and companies that sell sexually explicit video tapes. While reading Adult Video News, Moore saw an advertisement which had been placed by A B Video Company ("A B"), a privately owned, sexually explicit video store which had been cooperating with undercover officers of the Orange County, Florida Sheriff's Department. Moore subsequently requested and received A B's catalog, which contained a two-line advertisement placed by the undercover officers: "Looking for bizarre videos and photos, taboo material, want young girls, family or incest videos. Will trade for like material. Write Bryant, P.O. Box 617379, Orlando, Florida 32861, or call 407-427-2407." J.A. at 44.

Responding to the advertisement, Moore mailed an index card addressed to A B, postmarked July 20, 1988, which said: "Bryant, please send me information on the following [sic], horse, dogs, children and fists." J.A. at 45. After mailing the card, Moore realized that he had sent it to the wrong address. He telephoned "Bryant" and "Carl," but remained unaware that they were undercover officers. On July 28, 1988, Moore sent a second letter to the officers to clarify his interests. Moore wrote that he was interested in purchasing video tapes containing: pre-teen to fifteen year-old girls making love with men either vaginally, anally or orally; pre-teen to fifteen year-old girls with adult women; lesbian scenes; and various other pornographic depictions. Moore wrote in the margin of his letter "Please destroy" and added "have still nude and action photos of seventeen year old and adult male, Polaroid . . ." J.A. at 46.

During the next six months, Moore continued to call the telephone number listed in the advertisement to speak with Bryant or Carl. On August 20, 1988, Moore mailed a package to Bryant which contained a roll of undeveloped film. Carl developed the film and found that it depicted a seventeen year-old female engaged in explicit sexual acts with an adult male. Carl then made photocopies of the sexually explicit photographs and sent the negatives and photographs back to Moore. Even though Moore told Carl that the photographs depicted a minor female, Carl had no independent evidence of the female's age and determined there was insufficient evidence to prosecute.

Because the Orange County undercover operation was a local operation, Carl notified Postal Inspector Perry LePere ("Inspector LePere") in Nashville, Tennessee of his contacts with Moore. Inspector LePere advised Carl that the Postal Inspection Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation ("FBI") had established a joint federal undercover operation to investigate child pornography in Nashville. Inspector LePere continued that he would be working with FBI agent Brad Garrett ("Agent Garrett") in the joint operation.

In September 1988, Moore telephoned Carl. Carl informed Moore that he could no longer deal with him, but that he had a source in Nashville who might meet Moore's needs. On January 25, 1989, Carl telephone Moore and gave him the number of the federal undercover operation, which Carl described as the "Nashville source." Carl instructed Moore to ask for "Tom."

On January 26, 1989, Moore telephoned Tom and explained that he had been referred by Carl and wanted to purchase some videos. When Tom asked what Moore was looking for in particular, Moore replied "Ah, young women. Ah, teen, preteen type stuff." Moore stated that he was looking for the below fifteen years-old age group. He also requested action shots with women and young girls. Moore then asked Tom to develop 35 mm color action shots of twelve and thirteen year-old girls that he had photographed in the "project areas" of town.

In a January 26, 1989 letter, Tom mailed three documents to Moore: (1) a description of the film known as YL-62; (2) a description of the film known as YL-107; and (3) a preprinted form describing film processing costs. Film YL-62 was a bestiality tape with a horse and a woman priced at $65; and Film YL-107 was a tape containing six scenarios of child pornography priced at $275. In his letter, Tom explained that upon receiving Moore's order form and payment, he would send the videos to Moore by registered mail.

On February 15, 1989, Moore mailed a copy of the Film YL-62 (the bestiality tape) description, an order form and a personal check for $65 to Tom. Film YL-62 was then mailed to Moore. On March 10, 1989, Moore mailed "Young Services" the Film YL-107 (the child pornography tape) order sheet, dated and signed "Greg Moore," as well as his payment totaling $275.

On March 15, 1989, Film YL-107 was prepared by Inspector LePere for controlled delivery to Moore. Inspector LePere packaged the tape in an Express Mail envelope; addressed the envelope to Moore; affixed the proper postage; drove to Corryton, Tennessee and hand delivered the envelope to the Corryton postmaster. The Corryton postmaster then placed a note in Moore's Post Office Box that a piece of mail had arrived that was too large to fit in the box. After Moore picked up the package from the Post Office, he was arrested by Inspector LePere. Following his arrest, Moore consented to a search of his residence, which revealed a substantial library of adult pornographic magazines and video tapes, but no child pornography.

II.

When reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence supporting a criminal conviction, "we must reverse only if the evidence is such that a reasonable mind could not find guilt beyond a reasonable doubt." United States v. Stull, 743 F.2d 439, 442 (6th Cir. 1984), cert. denied, 470 U.S. 1062, 105 S.Ct. 1779, 84 L.Ed.2d 838 (1985). The evidence must be viewed in the light most favorable to the Government. United States v. Johnson, 855 F.2d 299, 303 (6th Cir. 1988).

A.

On appeal, Moore argues the district court abused its discretion by rejecting his guilty plea without "`articulat[ing] a sound reason for rejecting the plea.'" Brief on Behalf of Defendant-Appellant at 48, United States v. Moore (6th Cir. 1990) (No. 89-6581) (quoting United States v. Delegal, 678 F.2d 47, 50 (7th Cir. 1982)). The Government counters that the district court "has broad discretion in deciding whether to accept a guilty plea and is under no duty to accept a negotiated plea agreement and need not state any reasons for rejecting a plea." Brief on Behalf of Plaintiff-Appellee at 34, United States v. Moore (6th Cir. 1990) (No. 89-6581) (citing United States v. Moore, 637 F.2d 1194, 1196 (8th Cir. 1981)).

The Government is correct in stating that the district courts have broad discretion in deciding whether or not to accept a plea agreement. See Santobello v. New York, 404 U.S. 257, 262, 92 S.Ct. 495, 498, 30 L.Ed.2d 427 (1971) (citing Lynch v. Overholser, 369 U.S. 705, 719, 82 S.Ct. 1063, 1072, 8 L.Ed.2d 211 (1962)). See also United States v. Yates, 698 F.2d 828, 829-30 (6th Cir. 1983). We do not agree, however, with the Government that the district court "need not state any reasons for rejecting a plea." Brief on Behalf of Plaintiff-Appellee at 34. Although that rule was adopted by the Eighth Circuit in United States v. Moore, 637 F.2d 1194, 1196 (8th Cir. 1981) (stating that a "district court is under no duty to consider a negotiated plea agreement [and that] Rule 11 does not require district courts to either accept a guilty plea or delineate its [sic] reasons for rejecting it") (citations omitted), we believe that the Seventh Circuit expressed the better view in United States v. Delegal, 678 F.2d 47 (7th Cir. 1982). In Delegal, the court held:

While a defendant has no absolute right to have a guilty plea accepted, a court must exercise sound discretion in determining whether or not to reject a plea. Thus, a defendant is entitled to plead guilty unless the district court can articulate a sound reason for rejecting the plea.

Id. at 50 (citations omitted). See also United States v. Ammidown, 497 F.2d 615, 622 (D.C. Cir. 1973) (requiring a "reasoned exercise of discretion in order to justify a departure from the course agreed on by the prosecution and defense"). Cf. United States v. Miller, 722 F.2d 562, 566 (9th Cir. 1983) (holding that district courts "must set forth, on the record, both the prosecutor's reasons for framing the [charge] bargain as he did and the court's justification for rejecting the bargain") (citations omitted).

By leaving the decision whether to accept or reject a plea to the "exercise of sound judicial discretion," Santobello, 404 U.S. at 262, 92 S.Ct. at 498, the Supreme Court did not intend to allow district courts to reject pleas on an arbitrary basis. The authority to exercise judicial discretion implies the responsibility to consider all relevant factors and rationally construct a decision. See United States v. Severino, 800 F.2d 42, 46 (2nd Cir. 1986) (holding that a court may reject a plea "if [it] has reasonable grounds for believing that acceptance of the plea would be contrary to the sound administration of justice"), cert. denied, 479 U.S. 1056, 107 S.Ct. 932, 93 L.Ed.2d 983 (1987). As the Seventh Circuit has recognized, requiring district courts to articulate a sound reason for rejecting a plea is the surest way to foster the sound exercise of judicial discretion. See Delegal, 678 F.2d at 50. Accordingly, we remand this case to the district court so that the district judge can articulate his reasons for rejecting Moore's guilty plea.

B.

Moore next argues that the conduct of the Government constituted entrapment. In response, the Government argues that the evidence shows that Moore was predisposed to engage in the charged criminal activity prior to his initial exposure to Government agents. We agree.

In considering a defendant's entrapment defense, we must determine "whether law enforcement officials implanted a criminal design in the mind of an otherwise law-abiding citizen or whether the Government merely provided an opportunity to commit a crime to one who is already predisposed to do so." United States v. Pennell, 737 F.2d 521, 534 (6th Cir. 1984), cert. denied, 469 U.S. 1158, 105 S.Ct. 906, 83 L.Ed.2d 921 (1985). When the uncontradicted evidence shows lack of predisposition, entrapment can be determined as a matter of law. See United States v. Silva, 846 F.2d 352, 354-55 (6th Cir.), cert. denied, 488 U.S. 941, 109 S.Ct. 365, 102 L.Ed.2d 354 (1988). "However, once the issue of predisposition is in dispute, the Government must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant was predisposed to commit the offense." United States v. Johnson, 855 F.2d 299, 303 (6th Cir. 1988).

To determine Moore's state of mind prior to his initial exposure to Government agents, we consider the following factors:

[T]he character or reputation of the defendant, including any prior criminal record; whether the suggestion of the criminal activity was initially made by the Government; whether the defendant was engaged in criminal activity for profit; whether the defendant evidenced reluctance to commit the offense, overcome only by repeated Government inducements or persuasion; and the nature of the inducement or persuasion supplied by the Government.

United States v. McLernon, 746 F.2d 1098, 1112 (6th Cir. 1984) (quoting United States v. Kaminski, 703 F.2d 1004, 1008 (7th Cir. 1983)).

In the case at bar, the record shows that Moore was predisposed to order and receive child pornography prior to his initial contact with Bryant, Carl and Tom ("the undercover officers"). Before contacting the undercover officers, Moore maintained a substantial collection of hard core pornographic materials and engaged in related criminal activity involving minors. Moore confessed to the undercover officers that he traveled to the "project areas" of town to solicit and photograph minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. He later requested that the undercover officers develop his film negatives depicting a minor female engaged in sexual activity with an adult male.

On several occasions, Moore told the undercover officers that he was afraid of being prosecuted for receiving child pornography through the mail or being caught with child pornography in his home. Given Moore's knowledge that the charged criminal activity was illegal, the record does not support the claim that the undercover officers implanted the desire for child pornography in Moore's mind.

Contrary to Moore's arguments, the initial suggestion of criminal activity was not made by the undercover officers. In fact, Moore initiated the contacts with Bryant by responding to his advertisement for those wanting to trade in video tapes featuring the "bizarre" or "taboo" — two code words for child pornography. In 1988, Moore made over fifteen telephone calls to the undercover officers; sent them a post card requesting information on "horses, dogs, children and fists;" and later mailed them a letter specifically asking for videos involving "pre-teen stuff . . . anywhere below fifteen years-old." The record of Moore's initiation of contact with the undercover officers and his expressed desire for child pornography clearly rebuts his claims of entrapment.

Moore further claims that even if he was predisposed to purchase child pornography, he was, nevertheless, not predisposed to violate 18 U.S.C. § 2252 because he was firmly opposed to receiving such material through the mail. The transcripts of Moore's conversation with Inspector LePere display Moore's unmistakable hesitancy to receive child pornography via registered mail. On several occasions, Moore specifically requested that the contraband tape be sent via a private parcel carrier in order to reduce the chances that he would be convicted of a federal crime.

If Section 2252 reached only child pornography sent through the mail, we would be more inclined to accept Moore's argument. The statute, however, encompasses not only receipt of child pornography through the mail, but also receipt of such material "that has been transported or shipped in interstate or foreign commerce by any means. . . ." 18 U.S.C. § 2252(a). When Moore expressed discomfort with the plan to send the tape by mail, Inspector LePere offered to ship it via UPS but notified Moore that the package would be sent across state lines: from Fort Campbell, Kentucky, where the material was kept, to Corryton, Tennessee. J.A. at 341. Moore readily agreed to this arrangement, which would have constituted as sure a violation of Section 2252 as did the use of the mail.

On these facts, we agree with the district court that a reasonable mind could find, beyond a reasonable doubt, that Moore was predisposed not only to purchase child pornography, but also to receive it through the channels of interstate commerce or the mail in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252(a).

C.

Moore also argues that his conviction is offensive to the due process clause of the fifth amendment. Moore contends that he was denied due process of law because the undercover officers employed fundamentally unfair law enforcement tactics that amounted to outrageous Government conduct. In response, the Government argues that considering the nature of Moore's crime, the Government's conduct was not so outrageous as to violate the due process clause of the fifth amendment. We agree.

It has long been held that a law enforcement officer's conduct might be "so outrageous that due process principles would absolutely bar the government from invoking judicial processes to obtain a conviction." United States v. Russell, 411 U.S. 423, 431, 93 S.Ct. 1637, 1642, 36 L.Ed.2d 366 (1973). In determining whether police conduct has undermined constitutional due process protections, four factors are considered:

(1) the need for the type of government conduct in relationship to the criminal activity; (2) the preexistence of a criminal enterprise; (3) the level of the direction or control of the criminal enterprise by the government; (4) the impact of the government activity to create the commission of the criminal activity.

United States v. Johnson, 855 F.2d 299, 305 (6th Cir. 1988) (citations omitted).

We have reviewed the record below and find that there was no violation of Moore's due process rights. Because those who sell, purchase and traffic in child pornography operate in secret, it was necessary for the undercover officers to purchase an advertisement in Adult Video News to detect and investigate violations of Section 2252. See id. at 304 (holding that postal inspector's placement of an advertisement in Screw Magazine was justified to detect and investigate violations of Section 2252). Our review of the record indicates that prior to contacting the undercover officers, Moore maintained a hard core pornography library, including photographs of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Moreover, there is no evidence indicating that the undercover officers exercised any control over Moore's criminal activities, or that the officers increased the risk of Moore receiving child pornography through the mails. Moore originally responded to the undercover officers advertisement for "bizarre" or "taboo" videos. Then, by telephone and written correspondence, Moore repeatedly expressed to the undercover officers his desire for "pre-teen stuff." Moore finally mailed a $275 signed check and ordered Film YL-107 from the undercover officers, with the full knowledge that: (1) Film YL-107 contained six scenarios of child pornography; and (2) Film YL-107 would be mailed to him. Under these facts, the undercover officers' conduct could not be deemed so fundamentally unfair and outrageous as to violate Moore's due process rights. See id.; United States v. Thoma, 726 F.2d 1191, 1199 (7th Cir. 1984), cert. denied, 467 U.S. 1228, 104 S.Ct. 2683, 81 L.Ed.2d 878 (1984).

III.

Government undercover operations are severely needed to prevent and deter those who produce, sell, purchase or traffic in child pornography. Child pornographers commit serious crimes which can have devastating effects upon society and, most importantly, upon children who are sexually abused. See, e.g., E. Bass L. Davis, The Courage to Heal: A Guide for Women Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse (1988); M. Lew, Victims No Longer: Men Recovering from Incest Other Sexual Child Abuse (1988). In recommending the passage of the Child Sexual Abuse Act of 1986, the House Committee on the Judiciary explained: "Of all of the crimes known to our society, perhaps none is more revolting than the sexual exploitation of children, particularly for the purpose of producing child pornography." H.Rep. No. 99-910, 99th Cong., 2d Sess., reprinted in 1986 U.S. Code Cong. Admin.News 5952, 5953. The Government maintains an extremely important interest in preventing the spread of child pornography and child sexual abuse. Under 18 U.S.C. § 2252, Congress has provided a rational means to achieve this Government interest. Government undercover operations, such as the "Young Services" operation which led to Moore's arrest, are certainly required if our society is ever to be free of child pornography and the heinous crime of child sexual abuse.

Accordingly, we hereby AFFIRM the district court's December 8, 1989 judgment and commitment orders and REMAND this case so that the district judge can articulate his reasons for rejecting Moore's guilty plea.