The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Missoula, on May 25, 2011, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah C. Lynch, the following individual was arraigned:

PATRICK ASTORE, a 60-year-old resident of Helena, appeared on a charge of viewing child pornography. He is currently detained. If convicted of this charge, ASTORE faces possible penalties of a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and could be sentenced to 20 years, a $250,000 fine and lifetime supervision. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marcia K. Hurd is the prosecutor for the United States. The investigation was conducted by the Montana Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force.

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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