Lakeville cop faces porn charges over photos of 2 teen girls

The Lakeville policeman and an Apple Valley man are accused of taking pictures and video of 17-year-olds' kissing.

By JIM ADAMS, Star Tribune

Last update: April 1, 2008 - 10:21 PM

A Lakeville officer and another man have been charged with taking pornographic pictures of two 17-year-old girls kissing at the officer's home a few nights before Christmas.

The officer, Nicholas A. Reitmeier, 25, was also charged with providing alcohol to minors and reckless use of a gun. Reitmeier allegedly took pictures of the other man charged and an unidentified woman pointing handguns, including his service pistol, at each other and at him.

The second man charged, Shin Taniguchi, 25, of Apple Valley, knew one of the two teens and invited the pair to Reitmeier's home in Lakeville early on Dec. 23.

Both men are charged with two felony counts of pornography involving minors and two misdemeanor counts of misusing a gun. Charges filed in Dakota County District Court allege the following:

Reitmeier gave the two teenagers 40-ounce beer bottles and mixed drinks after they arrived about 12:30 a.m. at his house. Reitmeier and Taniguchi had their shirts off when the girls arrived, and the teens eventually took off their shirts but not their bras. When the teens started kissing and one fondled the other's breast on the kitchen floor, the two men took pictures and 60-second video clips with a cell phone. Authorities found photos and four videos of the girls on Reitmeier's home computer. The woman in the gun photos has not been identified.

Taniguchi said Tuesday that he didn't realize what the girls did was pornography.

Reitmeier's attorney, Kevin Gregorius, agreed.

"It seems a little extreme to call that pornography," Gregorius said. "Nothing remotely resembling intercourse took place. Two girls were kissing and possibly touching each other."

County Attorney James Backstrom said the law defines pornography as a sexual performance that includes physical contact with or without clothes on in which the breasts, pubic or buttock areas are touched.

"We believe pictures of young women taken in that manner are pornographic," he said.

Backstrom said the case surfaced after rumors about the kissing video circulated at the two girls' Dakota County high school. A student told the liaison officer. He contacted Lakeville police, which asked the Sheriff's Office to investigate.

Reitmeier has been on paid leave since Lakeville police were informed Jan. 9 about his possible involvement in the incident. Chief Tom Vonhof said Reitmeier has had no discipline or commendations since he was hired in 2002 as a community service officer. He became a patrol officer in 2004.

Vonhof said the charges are very serious.

"I am stunned and disappointed," he added. "Our department policy establishes a high standard of values and behavior that is expected of our officers at all times. Clearly, the behaviors alleged here violate and contradict those values."

Reitmeier was released on $20,000 bail Tuesday. Taniguchi is expected to appear in court within a month.

Jim Adams • 612-673-7658