St. Paul Man Pleads Guilty to Producing Child Pornography

MINNEAPOLIS—Earlier today in federal court in St. Paul, a 43-year-old St. Paul man pleaded guilty to photographing and filming pornographic images of three girls and one boy who were under the age of 10 at the time. Mark Allen Busse specifically pleaded guilty to one count of production of child pornography in connection to this crime. Busse, who was indicted on February 8, 2011, entered his plea before United States District Court Judge Susan Richard Nelson.

In his plea agreement, Busse admitted that on April 20, 2008, he photographed and filmed one girl while she was sleeping at his apartment. In addition, Busse admitted that in 2006, he took photos of a second girl while she was sleeping. Busse also admitted that in 2008, he took photos and video of a third girl and a boy. In every incident, the images produced showed the children engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

For his crime, Busse faces a potential maximum penalty of 30 years in prison with a minimum mandatory penalty of 15 years. Judge Nelson will determine his sentence at a future hearing, yet to be scheduled.

This case is the result of an investigation by the St. Paul Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, both of which are affiliates of the Minnesota Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly M. Hare.

The U.S. Department of Justice is committed to combating the sexual exploitation of children. For more information about these efforts, visit the Department’s Project Safe Childhood website, at www.projectsafechildhood.gov.