Mitchell man pleads not guilty to 11 child pornography charges, faces up to 110 years

[Artaxerxes II]

https://www.mitchellrepublic.com/news/l ... -110-years

Investigators traced the Snapchat account to the suspect through his cell phone number and associated IP addresses.

MITCHELL — A 21-year-old Mitchell man pleaded not guilty Tuesday in Davison County felony court to multiple charges related to child pornography.

The charges against Dillon Phillips, filed in September, include one count of possession, distribution, or manufacturing of child pornography and 10 counts of possession of child pornography.

The investigation began in February 2024 when the Mitchell Police Department received information from the Flagstaff, Arizona Police Department regarding a 13-year-old female who had sent nude images through Snapchat to an account registered in Mitchell. Investigators traced the Snapchat account to Phillips through his cell phone number and associated IP addresses.

According to court records, a search warrant executed on Phillips' digital data account in August showed an image of the victim's genitalia that matched one sent to the Snapchat account associated with him. Court documents allege that Phillips forwarded this image to another individual through a messaging service on Nov. 19, 2023, while he pretended to be a female named "Jessie."

Further forensic examination of Phillips' phone revealed at least 10 additional images depicting prepubescent females, aged 4 to 12, engaged in sexual acts or poses. These images were created or modified between July 7 and Aug. 19, 2024, a timeframe that falls under new South Dakota laws regarding child pornography that took effect on July 1, 2024.

During police interviews, Phillips denied owning the Snapchat account but admitted to engaging in sexualized conversations with females online, often pretending to be a juvenile. He denied requesting nude images from anyone and asserted that he was the only person who used his phone.

Phillips is being held on a $10,000 cash bond, with a personal recognizance bond denied.

If convicted, he faces up to 110 years in prison. A jury trial has been set for December.

[terminally_unique]

What defense attorney in their right mind advised him to plead guilty and roll the dice with the rest of his life?