Authorities Put Huge Dent in Montana Child Sex Crimes

Montana law enforcement has been on a hot streak as of late. Recently, I've been able to share stories about law enforcement cracking down on drugs and with great success.

Now, we get to talk about their crackdown on criminals preying on children.

Montana Law Enforcement Targets Child Predators Across the State

I keep a close eye on what our law enforcement and federal authorities are up to when it comes to crime in our state.

I recently noticed a string of sentencing announcements, all involving individuals charged with sexual crimes against children.

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It's a strong indicator that law enforcement isn't just going after the drug dealers and traffickers, but also the sickos preying on children in our community.

Montana Child Predators Face Punishments for Their Disgusting Crimes

We'll just look at recent cases starting on August 26th when a 50-year-old Red Lodge Man, Jeremy Dean Ruby, was sentenced to six years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release for possessing child pornography on his phone. Officials say he had "hundreds" of videos and caught him during a search warrant they executed because they suspected he was a drug trafficker.

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Also on August 26th, another man, 24-year-old Cameron Lee Powell of Kalispell plead guilty to one count of producing child pornography and one count of distributing child pornography. For the first count, he faces up to 30 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and over $70,000 in special assessments.

For the second count, he faces up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and over $50,000 in special assessments.

He admitted to "coercing an 11-year-old girl into sending him Child Sex Abuse Materials (CSAM) over Snapchat."

More Montana Predators Busted by Authorities

The very next day, 39-year-old Johnathan Key Tucker out of Missoula was sentenced to 16 years and eight months in prison (followed by a lifetime of supervised release) for distributing and collecting child pornography. Authorities alleged he had "over 27,000 images of Child Sex Abuse Material" and distributed at least three videos.

Next up is 41-year-old Derek Allen Moderie out of Missoula who plead guilty to two counts of distributing child pornography yesterday (9/1). He faces up to 40 years in prison, lifetime supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and "approximately $50,000 in special assessments."

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Authorities say tips from Google and Instagram were to thank for Moderie's arrest.

Then yesterday, 49-year-old Bradley Dale Evans of Babb plead guilty to one count of abusive sexual contact and will face up to life in prison, a $250,000 fine, up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.

Documents allege he sexually abused a child under the age of 12 in a home near Babb.

Child Predators Have No Place in this World

While I'm glad that authorities are cracking down on child predators, I, like a lot of people, wish they could all be taken off the street and disposed of.

That said, you have to commend law enforcement for staying busy and bringing these sickos to justice.

Here's to all of the law enforcement, federal authorities, and any other officials involved in bringing these troubled criminals to justice. Thank you for fighting the food fight and keep up the solid work.