INFORMATIONAL: FEDERAL COURT ARRAIGNMENT

Bill Mercer, United States Attorney for the District of Montana, announced today that during a federal court session in Missoula, on October 24, 2006, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah C. Lynch, the following individual was arraigned:

GARY DOERR, a 49-year-old resident of Helena, appeared on a charge of possession of child pornography. He is currently released on special conditions. If convicted of this charge, DOERR faces possible penalties of 10 years in prison, 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 Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The defendant pled not guilty to the charge.

The charge, an indictment, information or complaint, is merely an accusation and any person named as a defendant is 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.