By Bobby Falat
FARGO, N.D. (Valley News Live) – A former Cass County Sheriff’s deputy has pleaded guilty to five counts of possessing child sex abuse material, months after a judge denied his attempt to suppress evidence seized from his home.
Carson Quam entered conditional guilty pleas Friday to five of the 10 counts he faces. The conditional pleas allow him to appeal a June ruling that denied his motion to suppress evidence collected during a search of his home.
Quam initially pleaded not guilty to all 10 counts on Jan. 29. Court records show he changed his plea on Dec. 12 before District Court Judge Daniel Narum.
The case began when investigators executed a search warrant at Quam’s home, seizing eight items, including multiple phones, a laptop, a tablet, and a USB drive.
Quam’s attorney, Mark Friese, argued there was not enough connection between Quam’s residence and the evidence investigators were seeking.
Court documents show Quam admitted he viewed pornographic materials on his department-issued cellphone, which law enforcement had already confiscated before searching his home.
Prosecutors argued a special agent learned Quam lived in a residence with a password-protected internet and was using devices to view pornography, “and likely child sexual abuse material given his statements to females being around the ages of 15-16.”
The state said the facts, combined with the special agent’s training, created enough reason to search the residence “given that individuals are likely to keep copies of child pornographic materials in the privacy and security of their home.”
Judge Narum denied Quam’s motion to suppress the evidence in June.
Quam also admitted he used his work phone to download a TOR browser, which is known for hiding browsing activity.
A pretrial conference scheduled for Dec. 15 and a jury trial set for late January have been canceled following the guilty pleas.
The court has ordered a pre-sentence investigation and risk assessment.
A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled.
