Rochester man pleads guilty to sexting undercover officer posing as child

(ABC 6 News) – UPDATE: A Rochester man pleaded guilty to sexting an undercover officer he believed was a 13-year-old girl Wednesday.

Peter Eric Workman, 32, entered a guilty to plea to one count of engaging in electronic communication relating or describing sexual conduct with a child in Olmsted County Court June 28.

The plea is in exchange for a probationary sentence with no additional jail time, according to court documents.

According to Workman’s plea agreement, another count of distributing electronic materials relating to or describing sex acts to a child will be dismissed at sentencing.

Workman was accused of sending explicit photos of himself to an undercover officer posing as a juvenile girl on Kik in September of 2022.

Workman’s sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 2.

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(ABC 6 News) – A SW Rochester man was charged Friday with sending sexually explicit photos, videos and messages to an undercover officer he believed was a 13-year-old girl.

Peter Eric Workman, 32, faces felony charges of engaging in electronic communication relating or describing sexual conduct with a child, and distributing electronic material relating or describing sex acts to a child.

According to court documents, Workman, using a Kik account, allegedly messaged an undercover police officer in New Jersey posing as a 13-year-old girl between Sept. 8 and 19, 2022.

Court documents claim Workman “turned the conversation sexual” and began sending the undercover officer explicit images of himself and requested photos in return, even after repeated reminders that the Kik account was supposedly being used by a minor.

According to court documents, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension subpoenaed Kik for Workman’s IP address, and determined that he was the owner of the Kik account.

According to court documents, Rochester law enforcement learned from New Jersey officers that Workman’s account also chatted with an undercover officer posing as a 13-year-old from late September to mid-October 2022, and allegedly sent multiple explicit videos.

Local law enforcement executed a search warrant at Workman’s vehicle and home Thursday, Dec. 8 and seized a phone that allegedly matched the one visible in photos and videos sent to the NJ undercover officer.

Workman’s next court appearance is scheduled for Feb. 23, 2023.