Bill Mercer, United States Attorney for the District of Montana, announced today that during a federal court session in Helena, on March 13, 2008, before Senior U.S. District Judge Charles C. Lovell, DENNIS STRICKLAND, a 39-year-old resident formerly of Great Falls, appeared for sentencing. STRICKLAND was sentenced to a term of:

• Prison: 240 months
• Special Assessment: $200
• Supervised Release: life

STRICKLAND 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:

STRICKLAND, a registered and prior convicted sex offender, worked for the Montana Department of Labor as a computer programmer. STRICKLAND was allowed to work from home using a laptop computer issued to him in August of 2006.

During January of 2007, an IT Technician in Helena observed what he believed was an impermissible icon on STRICKLAND'S work laptop computer that belonged to the State. When examined further by state personnel, numerous images of what appeared to be children under the age of 10 engaged in sexual acts were found. The images were divided into separate folders that had been labeled. STRICKLAND was the only authorized user of the laptop computer which was password protected. STRICKLAND was terminated from his employment with the State and moved to Washington.

STRICKLAND was located living in Washington with a woman and her young son and questioned about his computer. He admitted that he was the only user of the computer and that he had downloaded images, but claimed that he would only look at images of males over the age of 18. STRICKLAND'S roommate in Washington found a CD holder belonging to STRICKLAND that had hand-written labels including "Mike 18," and "Boy Pic video." When she viewed the contents of those CDs, they contained images of young male children engaged in sexual conduct. She told STRICKLAND to move out of the residence and he then traveled to Great Falls to see his parents. When he left their home to return to Seattle, he stole a handgun from them. STRICKLAND contacted his former roommate in Seattle and told her that he was going to kill himself. STRICKLAND later contacted the FBI agent with whom he spoke in Seattle and advised her that he left the gun under a bridge in Fall City, Washington, and no longer intended to kill himself. The agents searched the area but were unable to locate the handgun. STRICKLAND was arrested and returned to Montana.

A forensic computer analysis was done on STRICKLAND'S work computer. Found were numerous images and videos of male child pornography, including prepubescent children and sadistic or masochistic abuse or other depictions of violence. STRICKLAND had searched the Internet for child pornography images and videos using the terms "boys nude," "preteen," "pedo boy," "gay child porn nude boys" and others.

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

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

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

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/

.