Kalispell woman convicted in child pornography case

A Kalispell woman was convicted May 22 of editing child pornography for a convicted sex offender beginning in December 2014.

Brittany Stout, 30, pleaded guilty by way of Alford to one count of sexual abuse of children pursuant to a plea agreement with the state before Flathead District Judge Robert Allison.

According to court documents, Stout was the recipient of an email containing 23 images from Phillip Bruinsma.

The message from Bruinsma attached to the images said, “Here’s a few for u 2 edit sweetie.” The email went on to describe the images as photos of Bruinsma having sex with an 11-year-old girl and contained an offer from Bruinsma to pay Stout for editing them.

The investigating officer identified the images as child pornography, with several showing explicit images.

Court records state that, in an interview at the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office, Stout admitted that Bruinsma had emailed her photographs of children to edit and then called her. She stated she was paid to enlarge and crop the photos based on Bruinsma’s instructions before sending them back to him.

On the stand, Stout testified that at the time, she had been highly under the influence of illegal drugs, which allegedly impaired her judgment and decision-making ability.

Sentencing is set for August 24, at which time Stout could face up to 100 years in Montana State Prison and a maximum fine of $10,000.

Reporter Mary Cloud Taylor can be reached at 758-4459 or mtaylor@dailyinterlake.com.