FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
MICHAEL STEVEN FINDER PLEADS GUILTY IN U.S. FEDERAL COURT
Bill Mercer, United States Attorney for the District of Montana, announced today that during a federal court session in Missoula on March 12, 2008, before U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy, MICHAEL STEVEN FINDER, a 47-year-old resident of Butte, pled guilty to receipt and possession of child pornography. Sentencing is set for July 11, 2008. He is currently detained.
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. Between September 2006 and February 2007, a computer utilizing the IP addresses assigned to FINDER at his Butte residence had images and movies of child pornography available to other peer-to-peer users.
On April 6, 2007, agents with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) executed a search warrant at FINDER'S residence. FINDER was interviewed and stated that he had owned the computer in his bedroom for three years and that he had used peer-to-peer software since 2004. FINDER also stated that his computer was password protected and the only other person who used his computer was his nephew, but that he was not allowed to use the peer-to-peer software. FINDER further stated that he did view movies that he knew were illegal and claimed that after he viewed the illegal movies he attempted to delete them but they kept "showing back up on his computer."
Also recovered during the search were various items of computer equipment. A forensic analysis of FINDER'S computer found numerous images and movies of child pornography, including images of known victims. Some of the children depicted in the images and movies were clearly less than age 12 or prepubescent, and/or were engaged in sadism or masochism or other depictions of violence. The movie titles were clearly indicative of child pornography.
FINDER faces possible penalties of a mandatory 5 years in prison and could be sentenced to the maximum of 20 years, a $250,000 fine and lifetime supervision.
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 and the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation.
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A copy of the Offer of Proof can be obtained by contacting Sally Frank at (406) 247-4638.
