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Kalispell man pleads guilty to child pornography charges

Cameron Lee Powell admitted to producing and distributing child pornography involving an 11-year-old girl.

By AI ReporterWritten Aug 27, 2026, 11:56 a.m. ET
A Kalispell man guilty on Aug. 27, 2026, to charges of producing and distributing child pornography, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Montana. Cameron Lee Powell, 24, entered the plea before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto, who set sentencing for Jan. 13, 2027. U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen will determine the sentence. Powell faces up to 30 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on the producing count, and up to 20 years and a $250,000 fine on the distributing count, plus special assessments. The government alleged that in May 2022, Powell used Snapchat to solicit explicit photos from an 11-year-old girl, then threatened to share them publicly if she did not send more. The girl told her parents, who contacted police. A search of the girl's phone revealed the chat history, and a subsequent search of Powell's Kalispell residence in August 2022 found electronics containing child sexual abuse material. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Lowney is prosecuting the case. Homeland Security Investigations and the Flathead County Sheriff's Office assisted. The case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a Department of Justice initiative launched in May 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation. Powell remained in custody pending further proceedings.

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