 |
 |
|
The United States Department of Justice FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
JUSTIN SHERRARD SENTENCED IN U.S. DISTRICT COURT
Bill Mercer, United States Attorney for the District of Montana, announced today that during a federal court session in Missoula, on January 10, 2007, before Chief U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy, JUSTIN SHERRARD, a 22-year-old resident of Missoula, appeared for sentencing. SHERRARD was sentenced to a term of:
Prison: 60 months
Special Assessment: $200
Forfeiture: computer equipment
Supervised Release: 5 years
SHERRARD was sentenced after having been found guilty during a 1-day trial of receipt and possession of child pornography.
Because there is no parole in the federal system, the "truth in sentencing" guidelines mandate that SHERRARD will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, SHERRARD 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 Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Criminal Investigation Division of the Internal Revenue Service.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In February 2006, Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.United States Attorney's Office for the District of Montana
P.O. Box
1478
Billings, MT 59103
CONTACT
Kurt Alme
First Assistant U.S. Attorney
(406) 246-4669