Man Charged with Child Sexual Abuse Material Possession in Hennepin County Investigation
Published: April 6th 2026
MINNEAPOLIS: A Hennepin County man is facing multiple felony charges following an investigation tied to a cyber tip involving suspected child sexual abuse material, according to a criminal complaint.
The complaint states that on October 2, 2025, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension received a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. The tip indicated that Google had identified a user who uploaded six files of suspected child sexual abuse material between July 23, 2025, and August 7, 2025, through its Google Photos platform.
According to the complaint, Google provided account information including a name, phone number, and associated email addresses. Investigators identified the account holder as Darius DeJohn Buckhalton. The associated IP address was traced to a residence on Humboldt Avenue in Minneapolis.
The complaint states that an investigator reviewed the six files, which were believed to depict child sexual abuse material.
Buckhalton was arrested on April 3, 2026. Following his arrest, the complaint states he waived his Miranda rights and spoke with law enforcement. He denied downloading or saving child sexual abuse material but acknowledged that the Google accounts belonged to him. He told investigators that other individuals had access to his devices and accounts but could not identify who those individuals were.
According to the complaint, Buckhalton said he had been living at a residence on Sherburne Avenue in St. Paul since March 2026 and had previously stayed at multiple locations, including his girlfriend’s residence in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, and a residence on Humboldt Avenue in Minneapolis. He also told investigators that he downloaded adult pornography but denied possessing illegal material.
The complaint further states that Buckhalton is a registered Level 2 predatory offender due to prior felony convictions, including first-degree criminal sexual conduct in 2005 and third-degree criminal sexual conduct in 2000.
Investigators allege that Buckhalton failed to comply with registration requirements. The complaint states he did not report stays in Wisconsin or the St. Paul residence as required. Records show his last reported primary address was on Humboldt Avenue in Minneapolis.
Buckhalton is charged with two counts of possession of child sexual abuse material, including one involving a minor under 14 and one as a registered predatory offender, as well as one count of knowingly committing an act or failing to fulfill predatory offender registration requirements.
The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.