Moscow Man Gets 5+ Years for Child Porn

COEUR D’ALENE, ID – James Dale Pressnall, 50, of Moscow, Idaho, is headed to federal prison after receiving a 63-month sentence today for the vile crime of possessing sexually explicit images of minors. U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced the sentencing, handed down by Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill, which also includes ten years of supervised release after Pressnall serves his time.

The case began to unravel in late 2015 when a Department of Homeland Security agent, working to root out this depravity, downloaded illegal files from a peer-to-peer network. A subsequent subpoena revealed the source of the filth: a computer located within Pressnall’s Moscow residence. This wasn’t some accidental download; this was a deliberate collection of exploitation.

Federal agents didn’t find Pressnall at home when they executed a search warrant in November 2015, but they tracked him down and seized his computer. A forensic analysis confirmed the worst: the machine was crammed with sickeningly explicit images of abused children. The scope of Pressnall’s collection was staggering, featuring victims from 24 states and 18 foreign countries – a clear indication of a calculated and widespread pursuit of this horrific material.

Pressnall pleaded guilty on June 21, 2016, attempting to mitigate the consequences of his actions. But Judge Winmill wasn’t swayed. Beyond the prison sentence, Pressnall will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release. He’ll also be mandated to undergo sex offender treatment and will face strict restrictions preventing any contact with minors. This isn’t just about punishment; it’s about protecting vulnerable children.

The investigation was spearheaded by the Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations, with crucial assistance from the Moscow Police Department. Both agencies are key members of the Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, a relentless coalition dedicated to tracking down and prosecuting predators who exploit children online. Learn more about their work at www.icactaskforce.org.

This case is part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 to combat the escalating epidemic of child sexual abuse. The program pools federal, state, and local resources to bring these monsters to justice and rescue their victims. More information on Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.usdoj.gov/psc. The fight against child exploitation is far from over, and Grimy Times will continue to expose those who prey on the innocent.