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District of Montana
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, September 18, 2008
MONTY JEROME HENDY 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 Great Falls, on September 18, 2008, before U.S. District Judge Sam E. Haddon, MONTY JEROME HENDY, age 30, formerly of Helena, appeared for sentencing. HENDY was sentenced to a term of:
- Prison: 36 months
- Special Assessment: $100
- Supervised Release: 5 years
HENDY was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to 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:
HENDY was an inmate at the Crossroad Correctional Center in Shelby in August of 2006. Officers were searching HENDY'S cell and found a photo album with magazine cutouts inside, a violation of the prison's policy. The cutouts were confiscated and images of child pornography were found hidden behind the cutouts. The images were small "positives," or colored slide-sized images.
When interviewed, HENDY acknowledged that he possessed the images of child pornography, but claimed that he had gotten the images from another inmate and was paid $50 to hold them for the other inmate.
Because there is no parole in the federal system, the "truth in sentencing" guidelines mandate that HENDY will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, HENDY 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 conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In February 2006, the Department of Justice launched 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/.