Martin City man admits to producing, distributing child porn

A 40-year-old Martin City man admitted in federal court Tuesday to producing and disseminating child pornography.  

Raymond Owen Bonner Jr. pleaded guilty to counts of production of child pornography and distribution of child pornography before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen DeSoto in Missoula on July 15. His sentencing is set for Nov. 19.  

Bonner faces a minimum of 15 to 30 years behind bars, a fine of up to $250,000 and five years to life of supervised release for the child pornography production charge. He faces a minimum of five to 20 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine and five years to life of supervised release on the distribution charge.  

Federal authorities began investigating Bonner after an undercover FBI agent in August 2024 found his account posting messages in a chatroom on an app known for trafficking child sexual abuse material, court documents said. The messages detailed his abuse of a 6-year-old girl he said he was babysitting. The account followed up with images and videos of the abuse, according to court documents.  

Bonner allegedly fled when authorities showed up at Bonner's Martin City home on Sept. 5, 2024. Authorities tracked him down and arrested him on Sept. 19 of that year.  

Bonner's victim identified him as her abuser after meeting with investigators, according to court documents. A search of his home turned up a phone that contained the same images and videos that Bonner had posted to the chatroom, court documents said.  

Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Lowney prosecuted the case, which was jointly investigated by the FBI and Flathead County Sheriff's Office. 

News Editor Derrick Perkins can be reached at 758-4430 or dperkins@dailyinterlake.com.