Idaho Falls Man Admits To Having More Than 600 Images Of Child Porn
An Idaho Falls man pleaded guilty Thursday in U.S. District Court in Pocatello to possession of sexually exploitative images of a minor.
U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson said that in the plea agreement, Micah Monroe Argyle, 28, admitted that he intentionally searched the Internet and downloaded sexually explicit images and videos of children. Argyle said he owned the computers and drives seized by investigators from his residence.
Forensic evaluation determined Argyle?s computer equipment contained more than 600 images of prepubescent children engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
Argyle agreed to forfeit the laptop computers and hard drives used to facilitate the offense.
The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office.
?With every downloaded file and every viewing of an illicit photograph, consumers of child pornography revictimize these children,? said Brad Bench, acting special agent in charge of HSI in Idaho Falls. ?They are just as complicit in furthering the trade of child pornography as producers of it, and we will continue to seek out these perpetrators and bring them to justice.?
The charge is punishable by up to 10 years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and up to lifetime supervised release.
Sentencing is set for July 11 before Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill at the Pocatello federal courthouse.
