Southern Utah Man Charged for Allegedly Receiving and Possessing Child Pornography

ST. GEORGE, Utah - A Southern Utah man appeared in federal court today for his initial appearance following a federal indictment alleging he committed multiple crimes after he allegedly received and possessed child pornography, otherwise known as child sex abuse material or "CSAM."

Adam Richard Roettger Jr., 26, of St. George, Utah was indicted on October 20, 2026.

According to court documents, on June 10, 2026, Roettger allegedly shared a video file which depicted a Telegram chat containing dozens of videos of child sex abuse material. On June 17, 2026, law enforcement executed a search warrant on Roettger's residence and recovered his cellphone. On June 24, 2026, officers executed a search warrant on Roettger's cell phone and located 16 videos and 17 photos that contained child sex abuse material. On June 26, 2026, an additional search warrant was executed on Roettger's residence where officers recovered additional electronic devices that could contain child sex abuse material. Law enforcement performed searches on all Roettger's devices and allegedly located approximately 316 videos and image files containing child sex abuse material. Law enforcement also allegedly located chat threads between Roettger's devices and others discussing the trading and sharing of child sex abuse material. In at least one chat, Roettger allegedly received a file containing CSAM.

U.S. Attorney Melissa Holyoak of the District of Utah made the announcement.

Roettger is charged with receipt of child pornography and possession of child pornography. He is scheduled for a four-day jury trial beginning on January 4, 2027, at the courthouse located at 206 West Tabernacle Street, St. George, Utah 84770.

The case is being investigated by the St. George Police Department.

Assistant United States Attorney Joseph M. Hood of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.

An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.