The trial of an Orcas man accused of possessing and distributing child pornography has been postponed to May 20, 2019, in order to give the defense adequate time to prepare. The motion was granted by Judge Ricardo S. Martinez of U.S. District Court.

Eastsound resident Christian Hogle, 53, was charged this past fall with one count of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. Both are federal offenses. He pleaded not guilty.

On Sept. 26, an indictment against Hogle was filed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington. The court ordered that his release conditions of wearing an ankle monitor and not residing on Orcas would continue. Hogle has no prior criminal history.

Hogle’s attorney, Emily Beschen of Butler Beschen Law in Bellingham, provided a statement after his arrest on Aug. 28: “Mr. Hogle has suffered from significant medical and neurological issues over the past year and a half.”

Federal law prohibits the production, distribution, reception and possession of an image of child pornography, which is defined as any visual depiction (photographs or videos) of sexually explicit conduct involving someone under 18 years of age. If the offense occurred via the U.S. Postal Service or on the internet, it falls under federal jurisdiction. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, a first-time offender convicted of distributing child pornography faces a statutory minimum of five to 20 years in federal prison. Possession of child pornography carries a maximum sentence of 10 years for a first-time offender.

To read the details of Hogle’s case, visit http://www.islandssounder.com/news/christian-hogle-arrested-for-allegedly-distributing-child-pornography/.