A Hardin man accused of offering to pay a minor girl for sexual contact and providing her alcohol has pleaded guilty to a prostitution-related crime, according to U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich.
William Serges Joseph, 76, pleaded guilty to use of a facility in interstate commerce in aid of racketeering in a Billings federal court.
The maximum penalty for this crime is five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. Under the terms of the plea agreement, the parties agree that a sentence of not less than one year in prison is appropriate.
Joseph was detained pending further proceedings and is scheduled to be sentenced on April 18, 2025. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
According to court documents, the government alleged that during an interview in March 2023 in Hardin, a juvenile girl identified as Jane Doe discussed that she began showing her breasts to Joseph in September 2022. The two messaged each other on Facebook, and Joseph was aware of Doe’s age.
Doe disclosed that she allowed Joseph to touch her sexually in exchange for alcohol, and that he asked her for pictures of her naked. In a later interview, Doe said Joseph continued to message her and offered her $50 for sexual contact. A review of Doe’s cellular phone identified a February 2023 message from Joseph with a picture of male genitalia.
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Key Facts
- State: Montana
- Category: Sex Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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