Perham Man Pleads Guilty in Child Pornography Case, Faces Jail
A 42 year old Perham man pleaded guilty Friday to two counts of pornographic work of a minor under the age of 14, as part of an agreement that dismissed four related charges. He faces up to 120 days in Otter Tail County Jail, a presumptive 36 month sentence that was stayed by the state, and five years of probation, with sentencing set for March 2, 2026.
Zachary Michael Nash of Perham entered a guilty plea December 19, 2025 to two counts of pornographic work of a minor under the age of 14. Under the terms of the plea agreement prosecutors dismissed four additional counts that had been filed in the case. The county will impose no more than 120 days in Otter Tail County Jail, the state provided a presumptive 36 month sentence that was stayed, and Nash will be subject to five years of supervised probation.
Prosecutors outlined an investigation that began after multiple tips were received December 15, 2022 from the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. The Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Office obtained a search warrant in May 2023. Investigators reported finding 17 files identified as child pornography on various devices during that search, after initial tips indicated there might be 18 files. Nash was booked into custody May 21, 2023 and remained under active litigation until the plea.
The guilty plea resolves the criminal case prior to trial and moves the matter to a sentencing hearing scheduled for March 2, 2026. The stayed state sentence means a longer prison term remains available to be imposed if Nash violates the conditions of his probation during the five year supervision period. Local prosecutors and law enforcement handled the case in coordination with regional Internet Crimes Against Children resources, reflecting standard investigative partnerships for online child exploitation matters.
For residents of Otter Tail County the case underscores continued law enforcement focus on online sexual crimes and the role of multi jurisdictional task forces in identifying and investigating digital leads. The resolution also highlights the prosecutorial discretion involved in plea agreements that balance evidentiary considerations and victim impact with community safety goals. The court record will provide further details at the March 2 sentencing hearing, where the judge will determine whether the agreed sentence and probation conditions are appropriate under state law.
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