BP man charged with possessing child pornography

An investigation that lasted more than a year has resulted in a child pornography charge against a Blooming Prairie man.

Donald Wesley Nelson, 75, faces one count of possession of pornographic work involving minors, a felony.

He was conditionally released without bail and is due in court April 1.

The case began in January 2022. Over the course of the next 16 months, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received tips that an internet user had uploaded several photos of what was identified as child sexual abuse materials.

The NCMEC notified the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension that the information involved a male in the area of Blooming Prairie. The BCA notified local law enforcement and an investigator with Internet Crimes Against Children.

Included among the images was a 5- to 7-year-old female with her genitals “lewdly displayed,” the criminal complaint says, as well as even younger females near or touching adult male genitalia.

According to court documents, the internet addresses associated with the NCMEC tips were associated with Nelson, at his address in Blooming Prairie.

On Aug. 24, several BP Police officers, two special agents of the BCA and a DEA agent served a search and seizure warrant for all electronic devices at Nelson’s home.

Officers seized six cell phones, two tablets, and two CDs.

On Feb. 5, the BCA reported the evidence provided 13 images from the various devices. The complaint against Nelson says 11 of the images were deemed child sexual abuse materials; two were deemed child exploitative/age difficult.

If convicted, the charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a $10,000 fine, or both.