Rochester Man Allegedly Sent Lewd Images to Undercover Officer
Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - A Rochester man was arraigned in Olmsted County Court today on felony charges that allege he sent lewd photos and videos of himself to an undercover police officer in New Jersey.
32-year-old Peter Workman is charged with engaging in electronic communication relating to or describing sexual conduct with a child and distribution via electronic communication material that relates/ describes sexual conduct with a child. He was released from custody without bail but with conditions and was instructed to return to court for an evidentiary hearing in February.
The criminal complaint alleges Workman initiated an online conversation with an undercover officer posing as a 13-year-old girl on the Kik social media platform on September 8. Over the next 11 days, Workman is accused of sending the undercover officer numerous photos of his genitals and videos of him performing lewd acts even though the officer posing as the juvenile girl stated multiple times that he was communicating with a person who was 13 years old.
An investigation by New Jersey authorities traced the IP address for Workman to Minnesota and the case was assigned to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. It was eventually directed to the Rochester Police Department after it was determined the IP address was connected to a residence in Southwest Rochester.
On Thursday, a search warrant was executed on Workman's vehicle and home. The criminal complaint says a cell phone was seized that matched the phone in the photos and videos sent to the undercover officer in New Jersey. Along with the lewd materials, the criminal charges say Workman also sent the New Jersey officer a "selfie" photo of his face.
