Bill Mercer, United States Attorney for the District of Montana, announced today that during a federal court session in Great Falls on October 15, 2009, before U.S. District Judge Sam E. Haddon, RANDY EARL BLODGETT, a 59-year-old resident of Lewistown, pled guilty to receipt of child pornography. Sentencing is set for January 11, 2010. He is currently detained.

In an Offer of Proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cyndee L. Peterson, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:

Agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Great Falls received a peer-to-peer referral regarding a computer IP address in Lewistown which had files previously identified as containing child pornography available for download between December 20, 2008, and January 30, 2009. The IP address was later tracked to BLODGETT.

On January 30, 2009, ICE agents went to BLODGETT'S residence in Lewistown where he was interviewed. BLODGETT admitted to intentionally downloading child pornography. He also admitted he was in the process of downloading videos containing child pornography during the interview. Agents viewed and photographed the computer screen while it was processing the downloads. BLODGETT'S computer was seized.

A forensic examination of the computers revealed 20 files containing video clips of child pornography. Search terms were discovered which were indicative of someone searching for files containing child pornography.

The images were forwarded to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and one victim was identified. Many of the images contained pre-pubescent children.

BLODGETT faces possible penalties of a mandatory minimum of 5 years in prison and could be sentenced to 20 years, a $250,000 fine and lifetime supervision.

The investigation was a cooperative effort between the by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Lewistown Police Department.

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

 

 

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