ST. CHARLES COUNTY — A Wentzville man who volunteers with his church’s youth group has been charged with child sex crimes.
Dylan Hemelstrand, 20, was charged this week with three counts of possessing child pornography. Prosecutors say he also posted in several online chat groups that he “had sex” with girls he was babysitting and tutoring.
The investigation into Hemelstrand is ongoing, according to Katie Rickerson, a spokesperson for the St. Charles County Prosecuting Attorney. Officials have declined to release the name of the church where Hemelstrand volunteered and was an active member.
According to court documents, St. Charles County Police received a cybertip that Hemelstrand was using his cellphone to search for, download and view videos that contain child sexual abuse. When police searched his home, they found Hemelstrand holding his cell phone and found three videos depicting child sex abuse.
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They also found the chat conversations on Hemelstrand’s phone where he talked about the girls he was babysitting and tutoring. He has not been charged in connection with those allegations.
When questioned, police say that Hemelstrand “did not openly take responsibility” for having the videos and images.
An arrest warrant has been issued for Hemelstrand. A St. Charles County judge has set his bond at $200,000, cash-only, with special restrictions that he is to have no contact with individuals younger than 18 and to not use social media.
Authorities did not say if Hemelstrand was in custody.
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