Byron Man Admits to Disseminating Child Pornography Videos

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - Multiple cyber tips involving suspected child sexual abuse material that were received by the Olmsted County Sheriff's Office two years ago have led to the conviction of a Byron man.

Court documents indicate 40-year-old James Ryan Savells was charged in April 2023 with two counts of disseminating child pornography and three additional counts of possession of child pornography. The criminal complaint states the Sheriff's Office investigated after receiving cyber tips from three social media sites concerning 27 sexually explicit videos depicting children that were being sent to other people.

The charges indicate the investigation led to the execution of a search warrant at Savells' residence in Byron where investigators seized two cell phones, two computers, and several USB drives. The court document says nine videos and 325 images of child sexual abuse materials were found on the devices.

Get our free mobile app

According to the criminal complaint, Savells told investigators that he did not actively search for child pornography, but that he is curious about it and saves it to a cell phone. The charges also say Savells admitted "sending CSAM to others when he is angry about interactions he's having with them."

On Tuesday, Savells entered guilty pleas to the two counts of disseminating child pornography and one of the possession charges. The two other possession charges were dropped.

He is scheduled to be sentenced next month.

More Minnesota News:

• Death at Downtown Rochester Parking Ramp Confirmed as Suicide
• Rochester Man Charged for Burglary and Cell Phone Store Theft
• Last Month Made the List of Top 5 Warmest Septembers in Rochester