Idaho Falls man sentenced for possessing child pornography
A 28 year old Idaho Falls man will spend 42 months in prison followed by ten years of supervised release for possessing exploitative images of a minor. Micah Monroe Argyle appeared before Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill for sentencing in Pocatello Monday. He pled guilty to the charge April 26, 2012.
According to a plea agreement with the US Attorney’s Office, Argyle admitted he intentionally searched the Internet and downloaded sexually explicit images and videos of children. Forensic evaluation determined Argyle’s computers and drives contained over 600 images of prepubescent minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The judge ordered Argyle to forfeit the laptop computers and hard drives used in the offense.
“With every downloaded file and every viewing of an illicit photograph, consumers of child pornography re-victimize these children,” said Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Brad Bench. “they are just as complicit in furthering the trade of child pornography as those who produce it and we will continue to seek out these perpetrators and bring them to justice.”
The US Department of Justice said the case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The initiative uses federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children.
