St. Louis Co. Former Duluth Ski Coach Sentenced in Child Porn Case
St. Louis County ( trfnews.i234.me ) – A former youth ski coach in Duluth has been sentenced to federal prison for creating child pornography. Court records identify the defendant as 21-year-old John David Degelau.
According to investigators, Degelau used Photoshop to place the faces of children he coached onto explicit images. The altered images made it appear as though the children were involved in sex acts with him. Authorities say the activity was discovered after an extensive investigation involving federal and local law enforcement.
Searches of his devices uncovered more than 18,000 files. Among the files were manipulated images as well as photographs secretly taken at a beach. Prosecutors argued the scale and nature of the collection represented a serious exploitation of minors and a breach of trust.
A federal judge sentenced Degelau to six and a half years in prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release. The FBI and Duluth Police Department led the investigation, working together to secure the conviction.
Federal officials remind the public that producing or possessing child sexual exploitation material is a serious crime with severe consequences. Resources are available through the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children for parents, children, and educators to learn about online safety.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News
