A 21-year-old Richmond man has been charged with child exploitation and possession of child sex abuse material after investigators say a tip from a national child-safety organization led them to material tied to his email account. Sawyer Jude Knott turned himself in at the Wayne County Jail on a Monday afternoon and bonded out shortly after, according to kicks96.com.
A judge found probable cause in the case before a warrant was issued for Knott's arrest the previous Friday, per the same report from kicks96.com. The charges stem from an investigation detailed by the Richmond Palladium-Item, which reports that Richmond police received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children alerting them that a photo had been uploaded to an email address linked to Knott. That photo reportedly showed a nude adult and a pre-pubescent girl engaged in sexual activity, according to the Palladium-Item's reporting by Douglas Walker.
How the Investigation Unfolded
Richmond police visited Knott's home on September 1 and asked him to come to the police department for an interview, the Palladium-Item reports. Knott's attorney advised him not to make a statement, according to the same account. Investigators later determined that a 43-second video had been delivered to Knott's online account on October 20, and that the video showed a young child being sexually assaulted by a man, per the Palladium-Item's reporting.
Knott is charged with child exploitation and possession of child sex abuse material, offenses the Palladium-Item identifies as Level 4 felonies that carry up to 12 years in prison.
Bond and Court Date
Knott was released from the Wayne County Jail after posting a $30,000 bond, the Palladium-Item reports. His initial hearing is set for Friday, November 6.
