BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) - A 42-year-old Billings, Mont., man has been sentenced to 70 years in prison for producing and possessing child pornography.

Basil P. Herbst was sentenced Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Jack D. Shanstrom.

Herbst had pleaded guilty to 17 counts of sexual exploitation of children and receipt, possession and transportation of child pornography.

Prosecutors say he took pictures and videos of himself engaged in sexual acts with young girls at several locations in Billings, as well as in Great Falls and in Dickinson, N.D., beginning in 2003 or 2004.

Law officers began investigating Herbst in July 2007.