Informational: Federal Court Initial Appearance
| U.S. Attorney’s Office January 12, 2011 |
The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Billings on January 12, 2011, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Carolyn S. Ostby, the following individual appeared:
LESLIE JON CLAASSEN, a 50-year-old resident of Billings, made an initial appearance on a complaint alleging receipt of child pornography. He is currently detained. If charged with this offense, CLAASSEN faces possible penalties of a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison and could be sentenced to 40 years, a $250,000 fine, and lifetime supervision. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marcia K. Hurd is the prosecutor for the United States. The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Montana Department of Corrections, the Billings Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
A complaint is merely a written statement of the essential facts constituting the offense charged.