The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Missoula, on May 14, 2013, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah C. Lynch, RONALD JAY MILLER, a 56-year-old resident of Helena, pled guilty to access with the intent to view child pornography. Sentencing has been set for August 9, 2013. He is currently detained.
In an Offer of Proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paulette L. Stewart, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:
From approximately 2011 until Oct. 18, 2012, MILLER accessed visual depictions of children engaged in sexually explicit conduct on his computer.
Montana Probation and Parole conducted a probation search of MILLER's residence on Oct. 18, 2012, in reference to his possession of firearms at his residence. At that time, MILLER's computer and a number of floppy discs were seized.
While looking for information on MILLER's computer and floppy discs for firearm information, law enforcement located an image of a child engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Forensic examination revealed that MILLER accessed images and videos containing children engaged in sexually explicit conduct using his computer and the Internet. The Internet access dates were between approximately June 2011 and October 2012.
MILLER faces possible penalties of a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and could be sentenced to 20 years, a $250,000 fine, and lifetime supervision.
The investigation was conducted by the Montana Probation and Parole.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
