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2030 North Arlington Avenue • Duluth, Minnesota 55811 • www.duluthmn.gov
Public Information Officer, Mattie Hjelseth at (218) 730-5434 or mhjelseth@duluthmn.gov
SUBJECT: Individual Booked at County Jail for Pending Charges of Four Counts of Possession of Pornographic Work Involving Minors
BY: Mattie Hjelseth, Duluth Police Department Public Information Officer
NATURE OF INCIDENT: Investigation
CASE NO.: 22152695
INCIDENT DATE:
INCIDENT TIME:
INCIDENT LOCATION:
Individual Booked at County Jail for Pending Charges of Four Counts of Possession of Pornographic Work Involving Minors
The Duluth Police Department’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit, with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations, received two cyber tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in May 2022. These cyber tips involved several Child Sexual Abuse Materials. The ICAC Unit thoroughly investigated these cyber tips and determined that 26-year-old Duluth resident John Degelau was responsible for uploading these images.
A search warrant was executed in March 2023, and several electronic devices were seized. Forensic exams of the devices were conducted and it showed that Degelau possessed approximately 18,000 images and videos of Child Sexual Abuse Materials and child exploitive and age difficult images and videos. Of these, 790 images and 34 videos were identified as known victims.
Degelau was arrested for pending charges of four counts of Possession of Pornographic Work Involving Minors.
Good work to the Duluth Police Department’s Investigations Division for thoroughly investigating these cyber tips and arresting this offender.
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