Informational: Federal Court Initial Appearances

The United States Attorney(s Office announced that during a federal court session in Missoula, on September 27, 2013, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah C. Lynch, the following individuals were arraigned:

PHILLIP MORRIS, a 42-year-old resident of Jeffersonville, Indiana, and JEFFREY WOOLLEY, a 53-year-old resident of Nicholasville, Kentucky, appeared on charges of child exploitation enterprise and conspiracy to advertise child pornography. They are currently detained. If convicted of these charges, they each face possible penalties of a mandatory minimum of 20 years in prison and could be sentenced to life, a $250,000 fine, and lifetime supervision. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cyndee L. Peterson is the prosecutor for the United States. The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The defendants pled not guilty to the charges.

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.