Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - An Olmsted County judge has granted a downward departure from state sentencing guidelines in the case of a Byron man convicted of child pornography charges.

According to court documents, 40-year-old James Ryan Savells was charged in April 2023 with two counts of disseminating child pornography and three counts of possession of child pornography. The criminal complaint says the charges stemmed from an investigation conducted by the Olmsted County Sheriff's Office after investigators received cyber tips from three social media sites concerning more than two dozen explicit videos depicting children.

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The investigation led to the execution of a search warrant at Savells' residence in Byron, where court documents say investigators seized two cell phones, two computers, and several USB drives. The charges alleged that the devices contained nine videos and 325 images of child sexual abuse materials.

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."

Savells entered into a plea agreement last October and admitted to two counts of disseminating child pornography and one of the possession charges. As part of the plea deal, the other charges were dismissed and prosecutors agreed to the downward departure from sentencing guidelines.

READ MORE: Byron Man Admits to Disseminating Child Pornography Videos

The sentencing order for the Byron man includes a 78 month prison sentence that will be stayed while he is on probation for the next five years. Savells was ordered to serve a two month jail sentence and will be required to register as a predatory offender.

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