Matthew Stoney Olson is going to prison for seven years after being convicted of receiving and possessing child pornography, a crime exposed through a digital trail of depravity investigators say he left wide open.
Olson, of Circle, Montana, was sentenced to 84 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Susan Watters, who also imposed 20 years of supervised release and a $100 special assessment. With no parole in the federal system, Olson will likely serve every month of his sentence, minus a possible 15% reduction for good behavior.
According to trial evidence, in early 2015 Olson used a peer-to-peer file-sharing network to download dozens of graphic images and videos depicting child sexual abuse. Homeland Security investigators traced the downloads to his home, leading to a search warrant that uncovered a stash of illegal material on his personal computer.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Colin Rubich argued in a sentencing memorandum that Olson represents a “predatory danger to the community” due to his “unwillingness to acknowledge his crimes and his refusal to seek treatment.” Prosecutors emphasized the lasting harm caused by the demand for such material.
“Children have the right to grow up free from exploitation by adults who film them and those who drive the market by purchasing the films,” said United States Attorney Kurt Alme. “We encourage all Montanans to report situations to law enforcement where children may be at risk.”
The case was jointly investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, the Montana Department of Criminal Investigation, and a network of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies working under the Montana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
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Key Facts
- State: Montana
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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