UNITED STATES ATTORNEYS OFFICE

District of Minnesota
U.S. ATTORNEY ANDREW M. LUGER

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 29, 2015

CONTACT: Ben Petok

(612) 664-5703

STEARNS COUNTY MAN CHARGED WITH RECEIPT AND POSSESSION OF CHILD

PORNOGRAPHY
Heinrich charges result of long-term child exploitation investigation

United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger, FBI Special Agent in Charge for the Minneapolis
Division Richard T. Thornton, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA)
Superintendent Drew Evans and Stearns County Sheriff John Sanner today announced a federal
criminal complaint charging DANIEL JAMES HEINRICH, 52, with receipt and possession of
child pornography. 1 HEINRICH made an initial appearance today in U.S. District Court in St.
Paul, Minn., before Magistrate Judge Jeffrey J. Keyes. A detention hearing is expected to be held
on Monday, November 2, 2015.
According to the federal criminal complaint and documents filed in state court, a search warrant
was executed on July 28, 2015, at the Annandale, Minn., home of the defendant, seeking
evidence related to the January 13, 1989, kidnapping and sexual assault of a Cold Spring, Minn.,
juvenile male and the October 22, 1989, abduction of a St. Joseph Township, Minn., juvenile
male. During the execution of the search warrant, officers recovered numerous images of
suspected child pornography from the residence. Those images were maintained in multiple
three-ring binders and on the hard drive of a desktop computer.
The charges against Mr. Heinrich result from a long-term child exploitation investigation, said
U.S. Attorney Luger. Every image of child pornography victimizes a young person. Their lives
and those of their families are never the same. This investigation wasnt initiated to pursue those
who trade in child pornography, but thats what it uncovered and thats what weve charged. The
Stearns County Sheriff, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the FBI continue the
relentless pursuit of justice through this ongoing investigation for those who have lost loved
ones.
This arrest sends a clear message to those who would exploit children: Law enforcement is
actively pursuing you, said Special Agent in Charge Thornton. Children are the most innocent
1

The charges contained in the criminal complaint are merely allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent
unless and until proven guilty.

among us and there is no greater cause than their safety and protection. The FBI, in conjunction
with our law enforcement partners, will continue to aggressively seek those who would victimize
children.
An investigation of this length and nature requires an unwavering commitment dedicated to
ensure that in the end justice is served, said Stearns County Sheriff John L. Sanner. The
Stearns County Sheriffs Office is grateful for and appreciates this level of commitment from our
partners, the BCA, the FBI and the community as a whole.
Our pursuit of predators who target our children will never stop, said BCA Superintendent
Drew Evans. It doesnt matter how long ago it happened. In fact, as the science and the tools we
use improve year after year, so does our ability to solve these crimes.
According to the criminal complaint, among the suspected child pornography images stored in
three-ring binders in HEINRICHs home were more than 100 images that appear to depict child
pornography, some of which depict known child victims, based on a review of national database
of known victims of sexual abuse. In addition to the printed images, digital images of suspected
child pornography were recovered from the defendants computer hard drive. Investigators also
recovered hours of videos, apparently surreptitiously recorded by HEINRICH, of neighborhood
children delivering newspapers, riding bicycles, playing in public playgrounds and participating
in sporting activities.
In addition to the suspected child pornography discovered in HEINRICHs home, and according
to the criminal complaint, a recently-tested article of clothing worn by the juvenile male during a
1989 Cold Spring abduction and sexual assault was found to contain the defendants DNA.
According to the BCA laboratory report, the predominant male DNA profile matches a known
sample of the defendant. The predominant profile match to the defendants DNA would not be
expected to occur more than once among unrelated individuals in the world population.
If you have information about this case, please contact the Stearns County Sheriffs Office at 1320-656-6625 or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal
Apprehension and the Stearns County Sheriffs Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Steven L. Schleicher and
Julie Allyn of the U.S. Attorneys Offices Special Prosecutions Unit.

Defendant Information:
DANIEL JAMES HEINRICH, 52
Annandale, Minn.
Charges:
Possession of child pornography, 4 counts

Receipt of child pornography, 1 count

###
Additional news available on our website.
Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
United States Attorneys Office, District of Minnesota: (612) 664-5600