Billings man accused of distributing child pornography appeared today for arraignment, with U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme confirming the charges.
Kole David Kuntz, 41, pleaded not guilty to an indictment charging him with 2 counts of distribution of child pornography. If convicted, Kuntz faces a mandatory minimum 5 years to 20 years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and 5 years to lifetime of supervised release.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Tim Cavan presided over the proceedings, and Kuntz was released pending further action.
The indictment alleges that in November 2024, the defendant knowingly distributed a visual depiction using any means or facility of interstate commerce, including by computer and the internet, the production of such visual depiction involved the use of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct, and the visual depiction was of such conduct.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Zeno Baucus is prosecuting the case, with the FBI conducting the investigation.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the federal government. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, 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 to identify and rescue victims.
The charging documents are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The case is being monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system.
Related Federal Cases
- Benjamin Thomas Urry, Child Pornography Possession, Montana 2022 · Wyoming
- Richard Charles Saari, Child Pornography, Montana 2017 · Wyoming
- Eric Franklin Rosser, Accessing Child Pornography, Montana 2017 · Washington
- Wyoming Man, Child Pornography Exploitation, Casper WY, 2023 · Washington
- Zachary Thomas Armstrong, Child Pornography Possession, MT 2017 · Texas
Key Facts
- State: Montana
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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