By Josh Margolis
GREAT FALLS, Mont. (NMB) – A former assistant basketball coach at Stone Child College on the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation was arraigned in U.S. District Court Monday on an indictment accusing him of crimes involving the sexual exploitation of a child.
A press release says Christopher Brown, 31, of Box Elder, pleaded not guilty to sexual exploitation of a child, transportation of child pornography and sexual abuse of a minor.
The indictment alleges that in January, Brown sexually exploited a child and used a cell phone to transport an image of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The indictment also alleges Brown engaged in a sexual act with a minor between July 2018 and January 2020.
The indictment is merely an accusation. Brown is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Cobell is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the FBI and Rocky Boy’s Police Department.
If convicted of the most serious crime, Brown faces 15 to 30 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years to life of supervised release.
Brown was initially charged by a criminal complaint with sexual abuse of a minor. He was fired from his coaching position shortly after those charges were filed.
