Mitchell man pleads not guilty to 17 child abuse material felonies
Source: mitchellrepublic.com
TL;DR
- A 19-year-old Mitchell man pleaded not guilty to 17 felony charges of possessing, distributing, and manufacturing child sexual abuse material.
- Police investigation started with a Snapchat CyberTip and found over 50 videos, plus admissions from Max Greger of paying a juvenile victim with Robux.
- Case heads to jury trial in August after devices were seized from his home on March 4.
The story at a glance
Max Greger, a 19-year-old from Mitchell, South Dakota, pleaded not guilty last week in Davison County Circuit Court to 17 felony counts tied to child sexual abuse material. The charges stem from a Mitchell Police Department probe triggered by a Snapchat CyberTip about uploaded explicit files involving a juvenile from another state. It's being reported now following his arraignment, with a jury trial set for August.[[1]](https://www.mitchellrepublic.com/news/local/mitchell-man-pleads-not-guilty-to-17-child-sexual-abuse-material-charges)
Key points
- Greger faces one Class 6 felony for child exploitation, 10 Class 4 felonies for possession of child sexual abuse material, five Class 3 felonies for distribution, and one Class 2 felony for manufacturing it.[[1]](https://www.mitchellrepublic.com/news/local/mitchell-man-pleads-not-guilty-to-17-child-sexual-abuse-material-charges)
- Investigation began after a CyberTip; a Snapchat warrant revealed files and chats where Greger allegedly bought self-produced material from an out-of-state juvenile, sent contraband back, and recorded content himself.
- On March 4, officers searched his residence and took multiple electronic devices.
- Greger admitted in an interview to possessing many files, screen-recording videos, and paying the juvenile with Robux from the Roblox platform.
- His Snapchat held more than 50 child sexual abuse videos, with at least five sent to others.
Details and context
The case highlights how CyberTips from platforms like Snapchat lead to local police action on child exploitation. Officers found evidence of exchange: Greger paid for explicit material from the juvenile and traded files in return, using gaming currency as payment.[[1]](https://www.mitchellrepublic.com/news/local/mitchell-man-pleads-not-guilty-to-17-child-sexual-abuse-material-charges)
All charges are felonies under South Dakota law, with classes indicating severity—Class 2 being among the most serious short of Class 1. No sentencing details yet, as he contests the charges.
The out-of-state victim adds a cross-jurisdictional element, but the case stays in Davison County court.
Key quotes
None.
Why it matters
Child sexual abuse material cases like this show the role of tech platforms in detecting and reporting crimes to protect minors. For residents in Mitchell and South Dakota, it means local police are acting on digital tips that uncover serious offenses in their community. Watch the August jury trial for a verdict, though outcomes depend on evidence presented in court.