Byron Man Sentenced to Jail in Online Child Solicitation Case

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - A Byron man has been given a jail sentence for a felony conviction connected to an investigation into the online solicitation of minors.

Multiple Felony Charges

Olmsted County court records show that 49-year-old William Douglas Pirkl was charged in April of last year with solicitation of a child or person believed to be a child, engaging in electronic communication relating or describing sexual conduct with a child, and distributing material relating or describing sexual conduct to a child. He was accused of contacting a Rochester police officer who was posing online as a 14-year-old girl and sending nude photos of himself after engaging the officer in a sexual conversation through a social media app.

Previous Law Enforcement Contact

According to the criminal complaint, Pirkl asked the undercover officer for her age and was told that she was 14 years old. It also noted that the Byron man had contact with law enforcement the previous summer when he was accused of showing an employee of a store a photo of his genitals.

Arrested Near Rochester School

The criminal complaint says Pirkl was arrested after arriving at a restaurant near a northwest Rochester school after arranging a meeting for the purpose of a sexual encounter. His cell phone was confiscated after he was taken into custody.

Plea Agreement and Jail Sentence

After reaching a plea agreement with Olmsted County prosecutors, Perkl entered a guilty plea to the charge of engaging in electronic communication relating or describing sexual conduct with a child in exchange for the dismissal of the other charges.

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He has been sentenced to 30 days in jail with work release privileges. Perkl has also been sentenced to 5 years on probation and is required to register as a predatory offender.