Billings man arraigned on child pornography charges

BILLINGS — A Billings man indicted on child pornography charges appeared for arraignment today, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.

Jeffrey Eugene Herbert, 34, pleaded not guilty to an indictment filed on Nov. 18 charging him with production of child pornography, distribution of child pornography and possession of child pornography. If convicted of the most serious crime, Herbert faces a mandatory minimum 15 years to 30 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years to a lifetime of supervised release.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan presided. Herbert was detained pending further proceedings.

The government alleged in the indictment that in June in Billings, Herbert coerced a minor, identified as Jane Doe 1, to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the production of child pornography. The indictment further alleges that in April 2019, Herbert distributed child pornography and that in January 2008, he possessed child pornography.

An indictment is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The FBI investigated the case.

PACER case reference. 22-133.

The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, which provides electronic access to review documents filed in a case, please visit http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the District Court’s calendar, please visit https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.

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