FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, March 06, 2008
CARL WHIPPO PATTERSON 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 March 6, 2008, before U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy, CARL WHIPPO PATTERSON, a 23-year-old resident of Belgrade, appeared for sentencing. PATTERSON was sentenced to a term of:
- Prison: 360 months, concurrent with another sentence
- Special Assessment: $200
- Forfeiture: cell phone, camera
- Supervised Release: life
PATTERSON was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to two counts of sexual exploitation of children.
In an Offer of Proof filed by the United States, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:
On December 13, 2005, a woman in Gallatin County discovered images of her six-year old daughter engaged in sexually explicit conduct on a cellular camera phone belonging to PATTERSON. When the child was questioned by law enforcement officials, she disclosed that PATTERSON had sexually abused her on a number of occasions and had taken the cell phone pictures as well as a videotape of her during those sexual acts.
During a search of PATTERSON'S residence in Belgrade, the videotape was found. The cellular phone images and the videotape were made in November and/or December of 2005 at PATTERSON'S residence in Belgrade.
When questioned by law enforcement, PATTERSON admitted that he had sexually abused the child and recorded that abuse via both the cell phone and video camera.
Because there is no parole in the federal system, the "truth in sentencing" guidelines mandate that PATTERSON will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, PATTERSON 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 Gallatin County Sheriff's Office.
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/.
