Minneapolis Daycare Worker Had Nude Pictures Of Kids On Phone: Police

MINNEAPOLIS — A Minneapolis daycare worker is accused of having child pornography on his phone.

Eric P. Allen, of Minneapolis, was charged last Thursday with three counts of possessing child pornography and one count of interfering with a minor's privacy. If convicted, he faces up to five years in prison, a $5,000, and a conditional release term.

On April 27, 2023, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a cyber tip about a cell phone containing more than 500 files of child sexual abuse material.

On June 11, 2023, a subpoena was issued for the phone number, which showed the authorized user as Eric Phillip Allen.

On March 25, a special agent with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension reviewed the phone and discovered videos showing a man sexually assaulting girls as young as 6, according to the criminal complaint.

The phone also stored selfies of Allen, police said.

On Aug. 5, special agents conducted a search warrant at Allen's home on Harriet Avenue in Minneapolis.

Allen told agents he was a daycare employee at a church in Minneapolis and had worked there for over a year, police said.

He said any images of children on his phone were a result of viruses, according to investigators.

When asked the ages of the children, Allen paused and eventually said "ages 10 to 15 and just nude - no penetration," the criminal complaint states.

Alle later admitted to having pictures of girls from daycare on his phone, provided their names, and stated they were taken when they were in the bathroom, the criminal complaint states. He also admitted to being "interested in young girls," authorities said.