FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, January 18, 2008
JOHN ERIC CARPEGNA 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 18, 2008, before Chief U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy, JOHN ERIC CARPEGNA, a 49-year-old resident of Missoula, appeared for sentencing. CARPEGNA was sentenced to a term of:
- Prison: 97 months
- Special Assessment: $200
- Forfeiture: computer equipment
- Supervised Release: lifetime
CARPEGNA 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:
On March 4, 2006, the Dillon Police Department received a report that CARPEGNA had sexually assaulted a four-year old female child. In addition, CARPEGNA was reported to have previously had child pornography movies in his possession. During that investigation, a search warrant was issued for CARPEGNA'S property in Whitehall. Seized during that search were various items which included a laptop computer, a videocamera, marijuana and drug paraphernalia, a gun, some computer media and children's clothing.
A forensics analysis of the computer and related media revealed numerous images of child pornography that CARPEGNA received via the Internet and saved. CARPEGNA had searched the Internet for the images, using search terms that included "where to buy child porn," "preteen sex" and "lolita sex." CARPEGNA'S collection included images of children under the age of 12 or clearly prepubescent, as well as images of sadistic or masochistic abuse or images of violence.
CARPEGNA was charged in state court with the sexual abuse of the child. CARPEGNA pled guilty and is awaiting sentencing.
Because there is no parole in the federal system, the "truth in sentencing" guidelines mandate that CARPEGNA will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, CARPEGNA 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 Dillon Police Department, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Montana Division of Criminal 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/.
