U.S. Department of Justice

Sheldon J. (Shelly) Sperling

Sheldon.Sperling@usdoj.gov

United States Attorney

Eastern District of Oklahoma

(918)684-5100

NEWS RELEASE

For Release: July 24, 2008
For Further Information Contact: Sheldon J. Sperling, United States Attorney or
Chris Wilson, Assistant United States Attorney

MUSKOGEE , OKLAHOMA - Sheldon J. Sperling, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, announced today that OWEN LEE WEST, age 77, of Wagoner County, Oklahoma, pled guilty to Sexual Exploitation of a Minor Child.

“Charges arose from an investigation by the District #27 District Attorney’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation,” stated U.S. Attorney Sheldon J. Sperling. “WEST was indicted in June 2008.”

“ Between April 30, 2003 and February 7, 2008, the defendant used a digital camera and computer to produce digital photographs of a child under the age of 12. The photographs depicted the defendant sexually molesting the child and the child in sexually explicit poses displaying her genital area. The charge is in violation of Title 18, U.S.C., Section 2251(a).”

“The Honorable Kimberly E. West, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Muskogee, accepted the defendant’s guilty plea and ordered the completion of a presentence report. Sentencing will be scheduled following its completion. The defendant is in the custody of the United States Marshal Service.”

“The statutory range of punishment is 15 to 30 years imprisonment and/or up to $250,000.00 in fines,” stated U.S. Attorney Sperling. “A preliminary guideline calculation projects a 262 – 327 month prison sentence.

“Assistant United States Attorney Chris Wilson represented the United States.”