A Minnesota state trooper on Wednesday pleaded guilty to federal charges of producing and distributing child sex abuse images.
In April, FBI agents in Texas identified Jeremy Francis Plonski as the person seen in videos sexually assaulting a baby.
Plonski, 30, admitted in federal court that he made nearly two dozen similar videos in 2023 and shared at least one through the Telegram messaging app.
Plonski was wearing his state trooper uniform and sidearm in some of the videos.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Dan Bobier said the victim was between the ages of one and two at the time of the assaults.
Under the terms of his plea deal, Plonski faces between 23 and 28 years in prison, but U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez said the law allows her to impose a term of up to 50 years.
Plonski is among three Minnesota-based law enforcement officers charged federally with similar crimes this year.
In September, former Customs and Border Protection officer Anthony John Crowley, 52, pleaded guilty to possessing child sex abuse images. Crowley, who is jailed and awaiting sentencing, faces five to six years in prison under the terms of his plea deal.
Homeland Security agent Timothy Ryan Gregg, also 52, is charged with exploiting a 17-year-old girl and producing videos of the abuse. Gregg, who also remains jailed, had been set to plead guilty Sept. 18, but the plea hearing was canceled.
A 24-hour statewide sexual violence and domestic violence hotline is available in Minnesota. You can call Minnesota Day One at (866) 223-1111 or text (612) 399-9995.
