A Sioux City resident has entered a guilty plea to charges of possessing child pornography. Priest Morris, 21, admitted guilt on May 1, 2025, in a federal court session in Sioux City, acknowledging the possession of illegal images.
During the hearing, Morris disclosed that he had utilized various applications, including Discord, Twitter, Telegram, and Snapchat, to acquire, share, and hold visual depictions of minors from January 2024 through August 2024. Information supplied by the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children led the Sioux City Police Department to Morris. Morris' Snapchat account had reportedly been used to upload inappropriate materials, prompting law enforcement officers to obtain a warrant to search his electronic devices. Upon executing the search, Morris admitted to having received and possessed unlawful materials, confirming their presence on his mobile phone and iPad. Forensic examinations revealed that Morris was in possession of over 1,500 images and six videos depicting child pornography, which included content portraying sadistic or masochistic conduct involving infants and toddlers.
The proceedings against Morris are part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide campaign initiated by the Department of Justice in May 2006, aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse. The project works through federal, state, and local agencies to apprehend and prosecute offenders, while simultaneously identifying and rescuing victims. Information about the project and resources for internet safety education can be found on the Department of Justice website.
United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will schedule sentencing following the preparation of a presentence report. Morris is held by the United States Marshal as he awaits sentencing, facing a potential maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and at least five years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term.
The investigation was led by the Sioux City Police Department, with prosecution headed by Assistant United States Attorney Kraig R. Hamit.