Rochester Teen Pleads Guilty to Possession of Child Pornography

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Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - A Rochester teenager today entered guilty pleas to three child pornography charges.

18-year-old Chakong Yathortou had faced a total of 10 felony child pornography possession charges but seven of the counts are being dismissed through a plea agreement with Olmsted County prosecutors. Under the terms of the plea deal, Yathortou admitted to being in possession of pornographic videos and images depicting children. He also admitted knowing the children in the videos and images were under the age of 13.

The criminal complaint in the case indicates Rochester Police investigators found 27 items of child pornography on a cell phone and 10 of the files depicted sexual activity involving children as young as infants. The court document says police began investigating Yathortou after a cyber tip came in involving child pornography being uploaded to Facebook.

The charges also indicate that Yathortou admitted viewing the child sexual abuse materials while he was talking with a police investigator as his apartment was being searched in April of last year. The complaint also says he admitted to having the Facebook account that sparked the cyber tip to Rochester Police.

Yathortou is scheduled to be sentenced in early April.