In March 2026, deputies with the Dakota County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to a residence in the City of Empire, County of Dakota, Minnesota, regarding an assault that had allegedly taken place at the residence. During the course of investigating the assault, deputies learned that Jeremy Lee Christoph, [DOB REDACTED], hereinafter Defendant, was living in the residence. Deputies discovered that Defendant was prohibited from possessing firearms as he was previously convicted of felony first degree drug sale in February 2012 in Washington County court file number 82-CR-11-2640. Several firearms were observed in plain view within the residence in which Defendant resided.
Deputies obtained a search warrant to search the Empire residence for firearms in connection with Defendant’s prohibited status. On March 30, 2026, deputies executed the search warrant on the residence. Inside Defendant’s bedroom along with his clothing, personal items, and mail bearing Defendant’s name, deputies located a loaded 23-inch modified shotgun bearing serial number P590485 underneath Defendant’s top mattress. On the nightstand in Defendant’s bedroom, deputies located a yellow Remington 20-gauge shotgun shell.
Deputies located several other firearms and additional ammunition in other areas of the home. Defendant denied knowledge of the modified shotgun but claimed that it might have his DNA on it because he may have grabbed it and moved it at some point. Defendant and other witnesses in the home also acknowledged Defendant having handled firearms despite knowing he was an ineligible person. Deputies also located a tan powder substance in a small clear baggie in a black bag in Defendant’s bedroom on the TV stand along with a white powdery substance in the shape of a line on a shelf on the TV stand.
