Judge sentences man to nine years in prison in child porn case

MISSOULA—A man who admitted downloading child pornography to his cell phone was sentenced today to nine years in federal prison and 15 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Wes Brady Johnson, 49, formerly of Marion, pleaded guilty in October to possession of child porn.

Chief U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided at sentencing. Judge Christensen also ordered $3,000 restitution.

An investigation began in September 2016 when a Montana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force agent received two tips that a user was uploading child porn with a Twitter account and that the account was connected to Johnson. Johnson’s cell phone was seized during a search of a Flathead County residence where he had been staying. Johnson said in an interview that he had been downloading child porn for about six months and that the files contained sexually explicit images of prepubescent girls.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Cyndee Peterson prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the ICACTF, Flathead County Sheriff’s Office and Montana Division of Criminal Investigation.

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