Bill Mercer, United States Attorney for the District of Montana, announced today that during a federal court session in Missoula on January 20, 2009, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah C. Lynch, JON ARNOLD CHAUSSEE, a 50-year-old resident of Missoula, pled guilty to possession of child pornography. Sentencing is set for March 26, 2009. He is currently released on special conditions.

In an Offer of Proof filed by the United States, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:

In July 2007, the Missoula Police Department was advised that a computer belonging to CHAUSSEE had been brought to a local computer store for repair. While backing up the information on the computer, the computer technician found a video containing child pornography. A search warrant for the computer was issued and the computer seized. Found during forensic examination were a large amount of child pornography videos containing prepubescent children engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

When questioned, CHAUSSEE first blamed an unknown family member, but then admitted that he had received the images and movies of child pornography via the internet and his home computer. Forensic evidence also shows that CHAUSSEE burned some of the movies to a CD from the computer prior to having it taken in for repairs.

CHAUSSEE faces possible penalties of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and a minimum mandatory 5 years supervised release up to a possible lifetime of supervision.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Marcia K. Hurd prosecuted the case for the United States.

The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Missoula Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

A copy of the Offer of Proof can be obtained by contacting Sally Frank at (406) 247-4638.

 

 

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