Prosecutors reportedly charged a Twin Cities, Minnesota, daycare worker on Wednesday with possessing child pornography and taking nude photos of children in her care.
Eric Allen, 39, is accused of storing sexual images of children on his computer and cell phone and worked at the Mount Carmel Child Services Center in northeast Minneapolis, which is affiliated with Mount Carmel Lutheran Church. CBS News.
The church’s pastor told the news outlet that he fired Allen once he was informed of his arrest.
According to CBS News, court documents say Allen admitted to having images of the girls from the daycare center on his phone and gave investigators the girls’ names.
An employee at a Minneapolis daycare facility is facing criminal charges after a tip found child sexual abuse material on his phone, including photos of children he worked with. https://t.co/hCrBZXvUcd
— KSTP (@KSTP) August 7, 2024
Police began investigating the matter after receiving a tip about child sexual abuse material (CSAM) stored on a mobile phone, which resulted in the issuance of a subpoena identifying Allen as the owner of the illegal material.
Investigators found videos of the abuse, showing underage girls engaging in sexual acts with each other and with adult men, dating back to March 2024. Police found 1,200 photos and videos on Allen’s phone. (RELATED: Woman claims she recorded alleged child sexual assault to avoid blackmail)
The day care center is assisting the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Investigation in the investigation. Allen was initially released but was remanded in custody due to the severity of the charges. He is scheduled to make his initial court appearance on Thursday.
