Owatonna Public Schools custodian allegedly blamed drug use for getting “hooked on” child pornography
(ABC 6 News) – An Owatonna Public Schools custodian allegedly told law enforcement that previous methamphetamine and cocaine use contributed to getting “hooked on” child pornography, according to court documents.
Jeremy Alvarez, 30, was charged with 5 counts of possession of child pornography Thursday, Oct. 24.
According to court documents, all of the charges involved children under age 14.
Owatonna public schools alerted families that Alvarez had been arrested and placed on leave Oct. 22.
According to Alvarez’s charging documents, the investigation began Oct. 15, with an Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) tip that pointed to a Steele County resident.
According to court documents, the tip involved a Kik account associated with Jeremy Martin Alvarez on 27th Street NE, Owatonna.
The Kik account had multiple explicit videos in the account’s “saved messages,” which involve clearly prepubescent girls in sexual situations with and without adults.
According to court documents, Steele County deputies met with Alvarez Oct. 22, the defendant “discussed porn that was illegal as ‘if they look like a child,'” then said his phone would be the best place to look for child pornography.
“Alvarez then told Investigators that he had gotten into meth and coke and that he got hooked on child pornography during that time,” court documents read. “Alvarez said he doesn’t search it out but it’s there.”
He denied meeting with any juvenile in person.
Alvarez was released on $0 bail with conditions Oct. 24. His next hearing is scheduled for Dec. 2.
—–PREVIOUS STORY—–
(ABC 6 News) — On Tuesday, October 22, Owatonna Public Schools custodian Jeremy Alvarez was arrested.
The arrest came as a result of possession of child pornography, according to a letter sent out to OPS families. The criminal activities did not involve any OPS students and was isolated to online behavior.
Alvarez was placed on leave and will not be allowed on school property moving forward.
The full letter is attached below:
