Libby man pleads guilty to felony child porn charge

A Libby man could spend the next 20 years behind bars, followed by a lifetime of supervised probation, after pleading guilty to a felony count of possession of child pornography in federal court Wednesday.

Rodney Lee Brossman was indicted Jan. 21, 2016, on one felony count each of possession of child pornography and distribution of child pornography by a federal grand jury. The indictment alleged Brossman “knowingly possessed an image of child pornography, depicting a prepubescent minor or a minor who had not attained 12 years of age, that had been mailed, shipped and transported in interstate and foreign commerce by any means, including by computer.” It was further alleged Brossman knowingly distributed a visual image of child pornography.

Brossman initially denied the charges and was scheduled for a jury trial, but reached a plea agreement with prosecutors April 7, 2016. In exchange for his guilty plea to the possession count, the distribution charge was dropped.

The plea agreement does not specify a recommended prison term, but the maximum penalty allowed by law for the offense to which Brossman pleaded guilty is 20 years, plus a fine of up to $250,000 and five years to life of supervised probation. Under the terms of the agreement, Brossman will complete a sexual offender evaluation and polygraph examination, at his own expense, which will be incorporated into the presentence investigation and report. The results of that report will be used to determine the final sentence, which is at the discretion of the judge. Brossman will also be required to register as a sexual offender and is prohibited from contact with any children other than his own without the presence of other adults.

Sentencing in the case was set for Aug. 24, 2016, at the United States District Court in Missoula.