Man, 21, Charged For Sending Minor Nude Photos
OWATONNA, Minn. (WCCO) --An Owatonna man faces criminal charges for sexting with a teenager he knew from his church.
Owatonna Police say 21-year-old Caleb Sanburn pursued a 14-year-old girl and encouraged her to send nude photos of herself.
Court records show that on Oct. 11, Sanburn turned himself in and told Owatonna Police he sent nude photos of himself to a girl he thought was 15 years old. A search of his phone revealed a 14-year-old victim in her underwear, but back then, police found his computer software rewritten.
The teen told officers she met Sanburn at Grace Baptist Church in Owatonna, while Sanburn told police he met her at a friend's house.
Grace Baptist Senior Pastor Andrew Burggraff told WCCO-TV Sanburn is not a staff member at the church and never has been, but he is an active member who has volunteered with the youth group in the past.
Authorities became increasingly concerned about his access to underage girls. The 14-year-old girl said Sanburn "had a reputation for having sex with a lot of girls and would beg her for sex".
She confessed to sending five nude photos of herself, but admitted the relationship escalated on Skype. She said Sanburn would take off his clothes, and ask her to touch herself, adding that once he masturbated in front of her on Skype.
But even while he was under investigation, the victim told police Sanburn kept sending sexual text messages, even asking if "if she had other friends who would consider having sex with him."
Court documents show this happened while the victim went on vacation for a month.
Sanburn again confessed, and after a search warrant on Nov. 11, police found those messages in his phone, and placed him under arrest.
Caleb Sanburnis charged with engaging in electronic communication describing sexual conduct with child, which is a felony. He is also charged with fifth-degree criminal sexual conduct for engaging in masturbation or lewd exhibition in the presence of a minor under the age of 16, which is a gross misdemeanor.
As part of a bail release, Sanburn is ordered to stay away from the victim, minors, cell phones and the internet.
