A former Minnesota state trooper has admitted in federal court to repeatedly sexually assaulting a toddler girl while recording the abuse and then sharing the videos with someone he met through the Telegram app.
Jeremy Francis Plonski, 30, of Shakopee, pleaded guilty Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis to one count each of producing and distributing child pornography with his cellphone in April 2023. Two other counts were dismissed as part of a plea agreement.
Plonski admitted to creating and sharing 23 videos over seven months in 2023. In some, he wore his State Patrol trooper uniform and firearm.
Under the plea agreement, Plonski faces between 23 and 28 years in prison. He remains jailed ahead of sentencing, which has not been scheduled.
Plonski also faces a Scott County charge of first-degree criminal sexual conduct involving the same victim.
“In light of (Plonski’s) plea to the federal charges, we will review our case and decide how to proceed,” Debra Lund, felony and juvenile divisions head for the Scott County Attorney’s Office, said Friday.
Plonski, who became a trooper in 2022, has been fired, according to the State Patrol.
“No badge, no title and no position will ever place anyone above the law,” State Patrol Col. Christina Bogojevic said in a statement. “Protecting the vulnerable is our duty. Anyone who violates that duty has no place in this organization or in our profession.”
Telegram relationship
According to May state and federal charges, FBI special agents in Houston on April 30 began a forensic analysis in an investigation into child sexual abuse materials. Federal law enforcement identified Plonski as the suspect and found several videos of him sexually assaulting the toddler.
Plonski and the victim’s face are “fully visible in the video,” the state complaint said, adding the file name suggested that it was made in 2023.
Plonski was arrested April 30 and said in an interview with law enforcement that he began a relationship with someone he met on Telegram around 2022.
“The two engaged in a dominant/submissive relationship where (Plonski) was submissive,” the complaint read. “Eventually that user instructed (Plonski) to send videos of (Plonski) performing sexual acts on (the toddler).”
Plonski admitted to law enforcement that he sent the person “four or five” videos of him sexually assaulting the toddler. He said that after recording and sending the videos, he “ceased all sexual contact with (the) victim and has not touched her since,” the complaint said.
FBI and BCA special agents executed a search warrant on his home and seized USB drives, cellphones, sex toys, laptops, a U.S. Army uniform that bore his name and a Minnesota State Patrol uniform, among other items.
Other cases
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After Plonski’s arrest, two other Minnesota federal law enforcement officers were arrested and charged within three days for alleged sex crimes.
A special agent with Homeland Security Investigations, Timothy Ryan Gregg, 52, of Eagan, was charged June 3 with producing child sexual abuse material of a 17-year-old girl after authorities say images and videos of the two engaged in sexual activity were found on her cellphone on May 29. His case is pending.
Anthony John Crowley, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer from Minnetonka, was charged June 6 with uploading child pornography to the Kik app in 2022. Crowley, 52, pleaded guilty Sept. 26 to one count of possessing child pornography and remains ahead of sentencing, which has not been scheduled.
