After a six-month investigation by agents of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency, a rural New Richland man has been charged with 10 felony counts of possession of pornographic material involving children.
Authorities searched the home of Nicholas Scott Pitan, 33, after obtaining a search warrant and found photographs and videos on Pitan’s computer featuring children as young as six years old involved in explicit sexual activity.
Allegedly Pitan paid approximately $99 to a Web site which allowed him to download 135 photographs and 10 videos.
If convicted, each count carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $5,000 fine or both. His next court appearance is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. on January 24, 2012.