Lake County dismisses porn charge against former official
By CHERY SABOL
The Daily Inter Lake
Lake County officials on Thursday dismissed a child pornography charge against Jerry Brobst on the understanding that he would be prosecuted in federal court instead.
Brobst, 61, was arrested at his Bigfork home in July on the charge of sexual abuse of children.
A worker in Brobst s home stumbled across pictures he thought was child pornography, Lake County detective Dan Yonkin said. It was totally happenstance.
The pictures were of prepubescent girls. They were unmistakably young children, Yonkin said.
The Sheriff s Office quickly obtained a search warrant for Brobst s home and arrested him at home later that evening.
Yonkin saw nothing that indicated that Brobst had produced his own pornography. The dozens of images appeared to have been downloaded from the Internet.
Brobst s computer and external hard drives and CDs were seized and sent to the Division of Criminal Investigation of the Montana Department of Justice for analysis.
Brobst was human resources director for Flathead Electric Cooperative in Kalispell and until recently served on the state Board of Personnel Appeals. He has been an active part of the Bigfork community and local theater groups.
Stephanie Wallace, in charge of public relations for the utility, said Wednesday that Brobst has retired from Flathead Electric.
Patti Keebler of the governor s office said Brobst is no longer a member of the Board of Personnel Appeals.
In a letter to Brobst, Gov. Brian Schweitzer wrote on July 12, I am removing you for cause from the Board of Personnel Appeals effective immediately.
After his arrest, Brobst was released from jail in Lake County after posting a $1,000 cash bond.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said he can t comment on whether or not Brobst will be prosecuted in federal courts.
People convicted of possessing child pornography can be sentenced to as long as 10 years in federal prison. Those convicted of transporting, receiving or distributing child pornography face from five to 20 years in prison, Alme said.
Reporter Chery Sabol may be reached at 758-4441 or by e-mail at csabol@dailyinterlake.com.