Sheridan Woman Indicted on Federal Child Pornography Charges

A Sheridan woman has been indicted on federal child pornography charges. Sheridan Media’s Ron Richter has the details.

United States Attorney for Wyoming, Mark Klaassen, through a news release from the Department of Justice, announced Wednesday that 34-year-old Jessica Lynn Dierking of Sheridan was recently indicted by a federal grand jury, for receipt of child pornography, distribution of child pornography, and two counts of production of child pornography.

Dierking, at an arraignment Tuesday before Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge Kelly H. Rankin, pleaded “not guilty” to all of the alleged charges. Judge Rankin remanded Dierking to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to await trial that is scheduled to begin on May 26.

The charge of distribution of child pornography is punishable by 5 to 20 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000, five years to life of supervised release, and up to $35,000 in a special assessment. Each count of production of child pornography is punishable by 15 to 30 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000, five years to life of supervised release, and up to $35,000 in a special assessment. The investigation was conducted by the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, which is comprised of agents from the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation and Homeland Security Investigations.