INFORMATION ISSUED BY U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR MONTANA ON AUG. 18: RYANN MICHAEL FRADENBURGH SENTENCED IN U.S. DISTRICT COURT

The U.S. Department of Justice's U.S. Attorney's office for Montana issued the following press release:

Bill Mercer, United States Attorney for the District of Montana, announced today that during a federal court session in Billings, on August 18, 2006, before U.S. District Judge Richard F. Cebull, RYANN MICHAEL FRADENBURGH, a 22-year-old resident of Baker, appeared for sentencing. FRADENBURGH was sentenced to a term of:

* Prison: 97 months

* Special Assessment: $200

* Supervised Release: 5 years

* Forfeiture: Computer Equipment

FRADENBURGH was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to receipt and possession of child pornography.

In an Offer of Proof filed by the United States, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:

In December of 2004, during a related investigation, officers from the Baker Police Department seized FRADENBURGH'S computer. When analyzed, the computer was found to contain numerous images of child pornography, mostly in movie form.

FRADENBURGH used a computer program to receive the images from the Internet. He had saved the files as "hidden" files to avoid detection. FRADENBURGH'S computer had been used at various locations in Baker to receive and possess child pornography during 2004.

The images depicted children clearly under the age of twelve or prepubescent children and images of sadistic or masochistic abuse or other depictions of violence.

Because there is no parole in the federal system, the "truth in sentencing" guidelines mandate that FRADENBURGH will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, FRADENBURGH does have the opportunity to earn a sentence reduction for "good behavior." However, this reduction will not exceed 15% of the overall sentence.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Marcia K. Hurd prosecuted the case for the United States.

The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Baker Police Department, the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Montana Department of Criminal Investigation.Contact: Kurt Alme, 406/247-4669.

Kurt Alme, 406/247-4669.