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WASHBURN COUNTY -- A criminal complaint has been filed in Washburn County Circuit Court against a Minong, WI man, charging him with both possessing child pornography and also distributing child pornography to others.
James Sorchych, of Minong, WI, is facing criminal charges following an investigation by the Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) into cyber tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).
Due to the information contained in the cyber tips, special agents for DCI obtained a search warrant for the history of several Yahoo email accounts. These email accounts were ultimately identified as belonging to Sorchych, according to the criminal complaint filed against him.
Investigators found evidence that multiple videos containing child pornography had been sent from these email addresses to other individuals. (The criminal complaint filed against Sorchych does not contain information as to the identity of any alleged recipient of the child pornography or whether charges are being filed against anyone else.)
On February 9, 2021, a search warrant was obtained for Sorchych’s Minong, WI residence. Agents for DCI along with personnel from the Washburn County Sheriff’s Office and the Minong Police Department executed the search warrant on February 11, 2021.
Sorchych was located at the residence and he voluntarily spoke with DCI special agents while the search warrant was being executed. The criminal complaint states that Sorchych confirmed ownership of the email addresses, and also allegedly admitted to distributing images and videos of child pornography to other people by using those email addresses.
The criminal complaint goes on to state that Sorchych admitted to viewing child pornography and told the special agents that they would potentially find child pornography on multiple electronic devices in his possession, including an iPhone, tablet, laptops, and other cell phones.
Sorchych allegedly stated that he preferred viewing child pornography containing female children between the ages of 7 and 11. He went on to say that he was usually under the influence of methamphetamine when he would view child pornography and that he would sexually gratify himself while viewing it.
When Special Agents examined Sorchych’s phone, they found multiple images of females who had not reached puberty and who were dressed in bathing suits or other minimal clothing. They also allegedly found dozens of videos of Sorchych sexually gratifying himself to videos and images of young females, according to the criminal complaint.
Sorchych was taken into custody and transported to the Washburn County Jail.
A forensic examination of the electronic devices taken from Sorchych’s residence during the search warrant also revealed multiple videos of children as young as toddlers being subjected to sexually explicit activity.
Sorchych is charged with one count of Class C Felony Sexual Exploitation of a Child - distribute any recording of a child engaged in sexually explicit conduct; and five counts of Class D Felony Possession of Child Pornography.
Online circuit court records show that Sorchych appeared for a bail bond hearing on February 12, 2021, while in custody and the Court placed him on a $5,000 cash bond, with conditions prohibiting him from having contact with the Minong residence. Sorchych made an initial appearance on his criminal charges on March 1, 2021, and is set to appear again for a preliminary examination hearing later this month.
Pursuant to the direction of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, as found in Supreme Court Rule 20:3.6, Trial Publicly, you are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Last Update: Mar 04, 2021 11:59 am CST
