On 10/2/25, the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) received a Google cyber tip forwarded by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children indicating Google had become aware on or about 8/7/25 that one of their users uploaded 6 files of suspected child sexual abuse material (CSAM)—commonly referred to as child pornography—within the Google photos infrastructure between 7/23/25 and 8/7/25. Google provided the suspect user’s name, mobile phone number, and associated email accounts. BCA agents identified the suspect as DARIUS DEJOHN BUCKHALTON (Defendant). The associated IP address was linked to a residence located at [ADDRESS REDACTED], Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota.
An investigator viewed the 6 image files believed by Google to have depicted CSAM. All 6 images depicted female children appearing to be between the ages of 8 and 12 and were sexual in nature, with the children positioned with their legs spread or bent over with their buttocks positioned toward the camera. Four of these images (two duplicates) focused lewdly on the exposed genitals of these children and appear to fit the definition of pornographic work involving minors found in Minnesota statutes 617.246 and 617.247. Law enforcement arrested Defendant on 4/3/26. In a post-Miranda statement, Defendant denied downloading or saving any CSAM but acknowledged the Google accounts were his.
Defendant said other people had access to his devices and Google account, but he could not specifically state who these people were. Defendant told police he was currently residing at [ADDRESS REDACTED], St. Paul, MN and had been residing there since being arrested on 3/10/26. Prior to residing at [ADDRESS REDACTED], he had been residing “all over,” including his girlfriend’s residence in Stevens Point, Wisconsin and his mother’s residence at [ADDRESS REDACTED] North, Minneapolis, Minnesota. Defendant said had stayed overnight with his girlfriend in Stevens Point, Wisconsin for weeks at a time.
He further explained that he downloaded adult pornography from websites like “xx porn” and “gif porn.” Defendant said there would be “weird shit” on his cell phone but not CSAM. Further investigation revealed that Defendant is a level 2 predatory offender because of a 2005 felony conviction for 1st degree criminal sexual conduct and a 2000 felony conviction for 3rd degree criminal sexual conduct. On 5/23/25, Defendant reported his primary address at [ADDRESS REDACTED] in Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota.
On 3/10/26, Defendant was incarcerated and his primary address was reported at Hennepin County Jail (401 4th Avenue South, Minneapolis, Minnesota). On 3/12/26, Defendant’s primary address was again reported at [ADDRESS REDACTED], which was Defendant’s last reported primary address. Defendant never reported a primary or secondary address in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. Defendant never reported [ADDRESS REDACTED] as a primary or secondary address. Defendant remains in custody.
