The Minot Police Department performed a search warrant on the morning of Aug. 2, 2023, after the Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce received a cyber tip made to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children by Facebook.
The search resulted in the discovery of multiple devices that contained illegal images of minors and the arrest of Richard G. Pierce, 23, of Minot. Pierce is charged with 10 counts of Certain Materials Prohibited (Class C Felony).
North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation assisted during the investigation.
The Minot Police Department is an active Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce member. The task force received a cyber tip via Facebook, which prompted the execution of the search warrant.
The Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program comprises 61 coordinated task forces representing more than 4,500 federal, state, local law enforcement, and prosecutorial agencies. These agencies are continually engaged in proactive and reactive investigations and prosecutions of persons involved in child abuse and exploitation involving the Internet.
If you or someone you know has information or is the victim of crimes against children, please call 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) or contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at missingkids.org