Charges Details Child Porn Allegations Faced by Rochester Man

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - A 30-year-old Rochester man was arraigned Friday in Olmsted County Court on charges connected to a child pornography investigation launched by Rochester police earlier this month.

Gavin Wacker Sullivan is facing felony counts of dissemination and possession of child pornography. The criminal complaint indicates the investigation that led to the charges began on July 2 when Rochester police received a cybertip concerning 18 videos and one image of suspected child sexual abuse material that have been uploaded to the KIK social media sites between March 26 and March 28 of this year.

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The court record indicates records obtained from Google were able to trace the KIK account to Sullivan and an address in Southwest Rochester. The charges note the IP address associated with the cybertip was also tied to that address.

Sullivan. Olmsted County ADC

According to the criminal complaint, that led to the issuance of a search warrant that led to the discovery of 31 videos and four images of alleged child sexual abuse material and messages uploaded to the KIK account that mainly involved young girls between the ages of 6-8 years old.

On Thursday, Rochester police executed a search warrant at Sullivan's home. The criminal complaint says Sullivan answered the door and attempted to flee back in the house.

Kim David/TSM

The court document indicates Sullivan had an iPhone in his possession and investigators found multiple cell phones and computers in the residence. It also states that a preview of one of the computers found "many images consistent with child sexual abuse material," and some of the children in the images appeared to be as young as 4 years old.

Following Friday's court appearance, Sullivan was released without bail and was ordered to return to court for another hearing later this month.

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