One pleads guilty, two more scheduled for October trials after child pornography arrests

By KAALTV
From left to right: Rithvik Hari, Scott Collett, Morgan Young / Olmsted County Adult Detention Center

(ABC 6 News) – One of three Rochester men arrested and charged with possession of child pornography in January pleaded guilty in Olmsted County Court Tuesday.

Two others will stand trial in October.

Rithvik Hari, 27 pleaded guilty to one count of possessing child pornography in exchange for up to 5 years’ probation.

Hari’s sentencing is scheduled for June 26.

Scott Collett and Morgan Young are both scheduled to appear in Olmsted County Court Oct. 3 for pretrial hearings on the same charge, followed by jury trials Oct. 9.

(ABC 6 News) – Three Rochester men were arrested and charged with possession of child pornography after a series of search warrants were served Thursday, Jan. 26.

Capt. Casey Moilanen with Rochester Police said officers received tips alleging that each of the men had violated laws against possessing Child Sexual Abuse Materials (CSAM) from another police agency or the Internet Crimes Against Children task force (ICAC).

The arrests are as follows:

  • Ritchvik Hari, 26, was arrested in the 4400 block of Stoneview Place SE. According to court documents, Minneapolis police flagged suspicious files downloaded by IP addresses in the Rochester area, more than 30 of which were attributed to Hari.
  • Scott Collett, 58, was arrested in the 800 block of 1st Street SE. According to court documents, Minneapolis police flagged suspicious files downloaded by IP addresses in the Rochester area, five of which were attributed to Collett. Court documents allege that Collett had been investigated in connection to child pornography in Austin, Minnesota between 2019 and 2021.
  • Morgan Young, 60, was arrested in the 600 block of 4th Street NW. According to court documents, Rochester police received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and the MN BCA that a Rochester-area internet user had uploaded an image of CSAM in December. Police claim they conducted a preliminary search of Young’s computer and found multiple images of child pornography.

Each of the men faces a recommended charge of possession of child pornography.

All three’s next court appearances are scheduled for Feb. 21.