Havre man gets probation for having child porn

A Havre man who sent child pornography through the internet received three years probation Tuesday morning in District Court in Havre.

Jason R. Keller, born in 1987, received a three-year deferred imposition of sentence for two felony counts of sexual abuse of children.

Keller pleaded guilty to the charges May 17.

Keller was also designated as a Level 1 sex offender.

The reason for the sentence, according to the minutes provided, is District Judge Daniel Boucher believed Keller understands the sentence can subject him to “considerable sanctions” if he violates his conditions. Boucher also took into account Keller’s lack of criminal history, his amenability to treatment and his good conduct while waiting to be sentenced.

The sentence will allow Keller to get community treatment and have the offense struck off his record if he abides by its conditions.

The investigation into Keller began after a photograph of two prepubescent boys engaged in oral sex was sent from his IP address Dec. 8, 2015. The photo was flagged as child pornography by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children Dec. 8.

The case was assigned to Blaine County Undersheriff Frank Billmayer. The undersheriff concluded the computer IP address belonged to Keller and informed a detective with the Havre Police Department June 29, 2016.

Keller was arrested and transported to the police station, where he was interviewed by a Homeland Security agent and Billmayer.

Members of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the Havre Police Department seized “a multitude of computers,” computer storage devices and flash drives from Keller’s home.

Charging documents say Keller admitted to going online to websites and chat rooms and navigating to boy sections to watch porn. Keller “admitted to downloading files on accident and then later said he downloaded so he could report the person(s) providing the child pornography.”

Keller admitted to liking boys in their teens and searching the internet for “young teen.” Keller said he was the only person with access to the Skype account that was used to transmit the picture.