Predatory offender pleads guilty to child porn charges

Published 10:09 am Saturday, February 16, 2019

Evan Jon Hill, 25, of Bayport pleaded guilty to two counts of felony possession of child pornography by a registered predatory offender and two counts of felony dissemination of child pornography by a registered predatory offender as part of a plea agreement on Friday in Mower County District Court. He initially pleaded not guilty on Oct. 22.

Eight counts of felony possession of child pornography by a registered predatory offender and seven counts of felony dissemination of child pornography by a registered predatory offender will be dismissed as part of the agreement.

Evan Jon Hill, 24

Court documents state that an Austin police officer and Department of Corrections agent were dispatched on July 4 to a residence in the 700 block of Eighth Avenue Northeast to obtain a drug test from Hill, a level 3 predatory offender who was on probation for a prior felony child pornography conviction.

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They observed a cell phone charger hanging from an outlet in Hill’s room. Under the terms of Hill’s probation, he is not allowed access to cell phones or any devices capable of accessing the internet without permission. When asked why he had the charger, Hill said he got it from someone and was going to give it to a roommate. When asked where the cell phone was, Hill said it was hidden under a couch cushion in the living room. Hill admitted the phone contained pornographic images of minors and said they were put on there before he went to prison. Hill was then arrested and the cell phone was seized.

On July 5, while at the Mower County Jail, Hill admitted to ownership of the phone. He told a detective that there were multiple pornographic images and videos of children in a secret folder on the phone and that he obtained most of the material from “someone” on a “Kik Messenger” application. The detective obtained a search warrant on the phone so a forensic investigator could look at the material.

Hill’s cell phone was turned over to an agent with the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, who advised that he found numerous images of children engaged in sexual acts. In all, 83 images and nine videos depicting child pornography or nude children were found on the phone.

A review of Hill’s criminal record shows prior convictions for theft, assault and possession of pornographic work involving minors.

Hill will be sentenced at a later date.