Minneapolis church daycare worker admits federal child porn crimes
Eric Phillip Allen, 41, pleaded guilty in federal court to producing and distributing child pornography tied to his work at a Minneapolis church daycare.[1]
Prosecutors will recommend a sentence capped at 35 years, though the statutory maximum is 50 years.[1] The plea covers two named victims, and filings say Allen engaged in additional production incidents with at least three other children.[1] He also faces Hennepin County charges, including three counts of possession of child pornography and one count of interfering with the privacy of a minor, and a jury trial is set for November.[1] BCA Superintendent Drew Evans publicly condemned the crimes and said the guilty plea was an important step toward accountability for abuse in a daycare setting.[1]
Court records say Allen escorted children to the bathroom and secretly recorded and photographed them.[1] In 2024, the filings say he shared at least one victim's image on the messaging app Telegram while sending sexualized messages about young girls.[1]
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📌 Key Facts
- Defendant Eric Phillip Allen, 41, pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of production and one count of distribution of child pornography tied to his work at a Minneapolis church daycare.
- Court records say Allen escorted children to the bathroom, secretly recorded and photographed them, and in 2024 shared at least one victim’s image on Telegram while sending sexualized messages about young girls.
- The plea involves two named victims but notes Allen engaged in additional production incidents with at least three other children; prosecutors will recommend a sentence capped at 35 years, with a statutory maximum of 50 years.
- Allen also faces Hennepin County charges — three counts of possession of child pornography and one count of interfering with the privacy of a minor — with a jury trial scheduled for November.
- BCA Superintendent Drew Evans publicly condemned the crimes and framed the guilty plea as an important step toward accountability for abuse of children in a daycare setting.
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