A Kalispell man pleaded guilty in federal court in Missoula on Thursday to counts of producing and distributing child pornography.  

Cameron Lee Powell, 24, admitted Aug. 27 to coercing an underage girl into sending him explicit photos over the social media platform Snapchat, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Montana. U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen DeSoto, who is presiding over the case, set sentencing for Jan. 13.  

Powell, posing as a sixth-grade girl, convinced the victim to send him the photos in May 2022, according to court documents. Upon receiving them, he allegedly threatened to make the images public if she refused to send him more photos.  

The victim instead alerted her parents, who called the police.  

Searching the girl's phone, investigators found a history of the chat with Powell, court documents said. Using that information to secure a warrant, authorities searched Powell's Kalispell home in August 2022. There, they found electronics with child sexual abuse material stored on them, according to court documents.  

Powell, who remains in custody, faces up to 30 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the production charge and as many as 20 years behind bars, a $250,000 fine and more than $50,000 in special assessments for the distribution charge.  

Homeland Security Investigations, alongside the Flathead County Sheriff's Office, investigated the case. 

News Editor Derrick Perkins can be reached at 406-758-4430 or [email protected]. If you value local journalism, pledge your support at dailyinterlake.com/support.