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An Albert Lea man was sentenced to six years in prison Wednesday for child pornography possession after pleading guilty in March.

Gavin Wayne Thompson, 23, pleaded guilty to four counts of possessing pornographic work involving a minor under 14 in exchange for having the remaining 11 counts against him dismissed. 

Court documents state authorities were alerted to Thompson after receiving a cyber-tip from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension’s Internet Crimes Against Children on June 16, 2022, regarding child pornography sent via Snapchat.   

A Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office detective obtained phone records for the IP address and phone number and identified the user of the phone reportedly used in the crime.  

Authorities also obtained a search warrant for Thompson’s home, and at that time, Thompson reportedly admitted to knowing he was purchasing pornography, and specifically child pornography.

An examination of his phone recovered 561 videos of male and female child pornography as well as 139 still photographs. Victims reportedly ranged from less than 1 to 10. 

Court documents stated between the videos and photographs obtained, there were approximately 1,000 separate juvenile victims.

Thompson will receive credit for 289 days already spent in jail since his arrest.