Trial scheduled in child pornography case

A Mellen man authorities say possessed multiple videos depicting child pornography is set to go to trial in December.

Justin Sturgal, 26, faces six counts of possession of child pornography. Law enforcement received a tip about two years ago prompting the investigation that led to Sturgal’s arrest.

According to the criminal complaint, Lt. Brent Bratley of the Bayfield County Sheriff’s Office received information from Ashland Police Lt. Scott Morland on Nov. 7, 2022, about a cyber tip for child pornography.

Morland said he received had three different cyber tips from the Wisconsin Department of Justice back in May of that year. The tips were related to images and videos downloaded of pre-pubescent females engaged in sexually explicit behavior.

Investigators tracked the materials to Sturgal’s address, email address and phone number.

When confronted by investigators, Sturgal admitted he had child pornography on his phone and had sent a video of child pornography to someone in a group chat via Snapchat. He also admitted to screen recording live stream videos of child pornography that were on his phone.

Online court records show Sturgal’s trial is scheduled for Dec. 19-20.