The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Missoula, on June 22, 2011, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah C. Lynch, the following individual was arraigned:

DAVID DWAIN SLEDGE, a 61-year-old resident formerly of Kalispell, appeared on a charge of production of child pornography. He is currently detained. If convicted of this charge, SLEDGE faces possible penalties of a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison and could be sentenced to 30 years, a $250,000 fine and lifetime supervision. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cyndee L. Peterson is the prosecutor for the United States. The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Montana Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, the Flathead County Sheriff's Office, and the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation.

The defendant pled not guilty to the charge.

The charge, an indictment, information or complaint, is merely an accusation and all persons named as defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. A pre-trial conference and a trial date will be set and the United States will be required to prove the allegations set forth in the indictment beyond a reasonable doubt.

 

 

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