On November 14, 2024, a detective with the Apple Valley Police Department was notified by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) of an incident involving suspected child sexual abuse material (CSAM). A Cyber Tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) indicated that four CSAM images were viewed from an IP address stemming from a residence in Dakota County. The detective investigated the email address associated with a Discord account that had accessed the CSAM, and identified the account holder to be Zachary Pisith Keo [DOB REDACTED], “Defendant” herein.
On February 12, 2025, Apple Valley officers executed a search warrant at Defendant’s residence and seized his electronic devices. In a post-Miranda statement, Defendant admitted the Discord and email account belonged to him, and that he was the only person who had access to his devices. Defendant, however, denied possessing CSAM. A subsequent search warrant was obtained to search the contents of Defendant’s electronic devices. Investigators at the Dakota County Electronic Crimes Task Force (DCECTF) discovered a message string in which Defendant appears to lament about his Discord account being shut down for the CSAM. DCECTF investigators also discovered a Google Chrome search saying, “I’m attracted to minors and I need help.” Investigators discovered multiple CSAM files, as well as a large number of CGI child [NAME REDACTED] on Defendant’s devices.
The CSAM files were then sent to NCMEC to determine whether any of the depicted minors were known victims. On October 10, 2025, the detective was notified that NCMEC identified four known CSAM victims in the contents of Defendant’s electronic devices. The first file depicts a naked prepubescent female and a naked adult male. The female child [NAME REDACTED] on her back and her legs are spread open, exposing her vagina and anus. The adult male is laying next to the female child [NAME REDACTED]. The adult male is kissing the female child.
The male’s hand is over her anus, with a finger touching the child’s anus. The second file is an image of a naked pubescent female laying on her back on a bed. The female has her legs spread open and is using her fingers to spread open her vagina. 3 19HA-CR-26-13 Filed in District Court State of Minnesota 1/5/2026 The third file is an image of a prepubescent female that is partially closed and laying on a bed. The child is wearing leggings with the crotch area removed, with the focal point of the image being of her vagina and anus.
The fourth file is an image of a naked prepubescent female laying on her back. A stuffed animal is placed across the child’s torso. The child’s legs are spread open, and the focal point of the image is her exposed vagina and anus.
