Ex-Minnesota State Patrol trooper pleads guilty to federal child pornography charge

An ex-Minnesota state trooper admitted guilt Wednesday to producing child pornography videos he later sent to another person through a messaging app.

Jeremy Plonski, 30, of Shakopee, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis to producing and distributing child pornography in connection with his May arrest during the FBI’s nationwide Operation Restore Justice initiative investigating child sex abuse.

Following his plea, Plonski was remanded to the U.S. Marshals Service to remain in custody at the Sherburne County jail until his sentencing, which has yet to be scheduled.

Plonski, who joined the Minnesota State Patrol in 2022, has been terminated after being placed on leave when the allegations arose, according to the Minnesota State Patrol.

“No badge, no title and no position will ever place anyone above the law. Protecting the vulnerable is our duty. Anyone who violates that duty has no place in this organization or in our profession,” State Patrol Chief Col. Christina Bogojevic said in a statement.

According to state court records, investigators arrested Plonski after finding several videos on a cellphone showing him sexually assaulting an infant girl. Plonski told investigators during interviews that he sent the videos of the assault to a person he was in a relationship with through the phone app Kik. He said he sent “four of five” videos to the person in 2022 then stopped.

The FBI previously said the abuse cases uncovered during Operation Restore Justice “underscore the disturbing nature of the crimes,” and that Plonski produced the abuse videos while wearing his patrol uniform.

Following his arrest in May, two federal agents from Minnesota were charged federally on sex offenses.

Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent Timothy Ryan Gregg, 51, of Eagan was charged in June with coercing and enticing a minor to take part in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing child pornography.