Bill Mercer, United States Attorney for the District of Montana, announced today that during a federal court session in Helena, on March 6, 2008, before Senior U.S. District Judge Charles C. Lovell, CHARLES DIKES, a 61-year-old resident of Helena, appeared for sentencing. DIKES was sentenced to a term of:

• Prison: 60 months
• Special Assessment: $200
• Supervised Release: life
• Forfeiture: computer equipment

DIKES 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:

The Wyoming Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force initiated an undercover operation targeting peer-to-peer file sharing networks offering child pornography. In January and February of 2007, a computer utilizing the IP address assigned to DIKES at his residence in Helena had images of child pornography available to other peer-to-peer users.

On March 30, 2007, law enforcement agents from several agencies executed a search warrant at DIKES' Helena residence. Upon arriving at the residence, agents contacted DIKES and his former wife. Agents secured the residence and began to conduct the search. DIKES and his former wife were separated and interviewed alone.

DIKES admitted that he had used Limewire and Bit Torrent in the past, but that he believed he had gotten a computer virus from them so he uninstalled them. DIKES admitted that he saw child pornography while looking for pictures of celebrities on the Internet. He also admitted that he downloaded and printed out stories using Limewire from a site called "Asstr," that included stories and photographs of girls between the ages of 13 to 18 years old involved in incest.

As a result of the search warrant and subsequent search, agents seized a computer, 2 binders with printed child pornography stories and images, loose printed material of the same, a camera with disk, videotapes, and picture CDs. The seized items were examined and numerous images of child pornography were found, including images of known victims. Some of the children depicted in the images were clearly less than age 12 or prepubescent, and were engaged in sadism or masochism or other depictions of violence.

Because there is no parole in the federal system, the "truth in sentencing" guidelines mandate that DIKES will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, DIKES 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 U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Helena Police Department.

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/.