Inmate to appear on child pornography charge

WORTHINGTON — Nobles County Jail inmate Simon Gebrehiwot, 21, of Worthington, has had additional criminal charges filed against him.

It was reported in June 2019 that Gebrehiwot had been having sex with a 16-year-old. The teenager's mother explained that Gebrehiwot had taken photos and video of him and the teenager having sex and saved them to his phone. Gebrehiwot's adult girlfriend had discovered the footage and brought it to the mother.

Related: Messages sent from jail lead to criminal sexual conduct charges against Worthington man Court records: Text and video messages sent from a Nobles County Jail inmate to juvenile were sexual in nature.
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The victim was forensically interviewed at Child’s Voice on Dec. 20, 2019 but declined to provide details other than to indicate that Gebrehiwot was the victim's “ex” and that they started dating when the victim was 16, according to the criminal complaint.

Gebrehiwot was charged with possession of pornographic work involving minors, a felony that carries a maximum possible sentence of five years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine. If convicted, Gebrehiwot will be sentenced based on criminal history.

He is being held in Nobles County Jail on bail set at $50,000 with conditions or $75,000 without.