Olmsted Co. Attny Contends Court Ordered Violation of Federal Law
Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - Olmsted County Attorney Mark Ostrem has dismissed child pornography charges against a Rochester woman because he contends complying with a court order issued in the case would result in a violation of federal child pornography charges.
A statement issued by the county attorney's office announced the dismissal of the case against 27-year-old Shahla Thompson, who along with Adam Reitz, is accused of being involved in the production and distribution of child pornography involving the sexual abuse a young boy in Rochester. In cases involving video or photo child porn evidence, prosecutors hold the items in a secure repository and make them available for review and inspection by the defendant or the person's attorney. In this case, Ostrem says the defense refused invitations to come to the Rochester law enforcement center to review the confiscated child pornography and obtained a court order requiring the prosecution to reproduce the materials and provide the copies to the defense.
In Ostrem's opinion, that would violate federal laws prohibiting the production or reproduction of child pornography and violate the rights of the victim in this case. Ostrem indicated he conferred with the child's custodial parents before dismissing the charges. He also notes that both Thompson and Reitz still face federal child porn charges.
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