Former Fergus Falls High School Teacher Sentenced To 60 Months In Prison For Distributing Child Pornography

Acting United States Attorney Gregory G. Brooker today announced the sentencing of JOSHUA NOBLE, 39, to 60 months in federal prison for distributing child pornography through online chatrooms. NOBLE was charged by felony information on April 17, 2017, and pleaded guilty on June 29, 2017, to one count of distribution of child pornography. NOBLE was sentenced yesterday before Judge Ann D. Montgomery in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis, Minn.

According to the defendant’s guilty plea and documents filed in court, NOBLE was a substitute teacher in Fergus Falls, Minn. for approximately 15 years. On March 4, 2016, undercover law enforcement officers observed NOBLE using an internet-based messaging service called Chatstep.com to obtain and distribute images depicting the sexual abuse of children. Noble possessed at least 244 such images, including depictions of prepubescent children under 12 years of age and infants and toddlers.

This case resulted from an investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations-Grand Forks and Washington, D.C.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Miranda E. Dugi prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, PSC marshals resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children while identifying and rescuing victims. For more information about PSC, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/  For more information about internet safety education, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/resources.html and click on the tab “resources.”

Defendant Information:

JOSHUA NOBLE, 39

Fergus Falls, Minn.

Convicted:

• Distribution of child pornography, 1 count

 
Sentenced:

• 60 months in prison
• 10 year term of supervised release
• $26,000 in restitution
• $5,000 special assessment paid to the Domestic Trafficking Victims Fund

 
###
 
Additional news available on our website.
Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
United States Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota: (612) 664-5600