Former MCSO deputy’s attorney alleges ‘vindictive prosecution’ amid new federal charges
M.K. French
Farmer Staff Writer
Daniel B. Christensen, a former MCSO deputy, is facing serious new federal charges related to child sexual abuse material (CSAM) following the dismissal of a nearly identical state case. While the U.S. Attorney’s Office is proceeding with the indictment, Christensen’s defense attorney, Christopher Redmann, is leveling sharp criticism, alleging the prosecution’s actions constitute a deliberate undermining of constitutional protections.
A federal grand jury in late August indicted Christensen on three counts: receipt of child pornography, possession of materials containing child pornography, and production of an obscene visual representation of the sexual abuse of a child. The indictment was issued shortly before the Northwest District Court judge officially dismissed the initial state case. The state case was deemed “fatal” after the judge ruled that a search of Christensen’s phone and cloud server was overly broad, violating his Fourth Amendment rights against unreasonable searches and seizures and leading to the suppression of key evidence.
In response to the federal indictment, the defense has condemned the action as part of a ‘gamed’ system which could have detrimental constitutional damage. Attorney Redmann argues that the federal indictment is a direct, retaliatory action by prosecutors against the successful constitutional defense in state court. Redmann asserts that prosecutors exploited the “separate sovereigns doctrine” - a legal principle allowing both state and federal authorities to charge a defendant for the same crime–in a manner that subverts justice. He claims the state prosecutor delayed the official dismissal until the federal indictment could be unsealed, thereby preserving the case against Christensen despite the state court’s finding of a constitutional violation. “This case reeks of vindictive prosecution and soured prosecutorial personalities out to get Mr. Christensen because they got egg on their face,” Redmann told The Farmer. He expressed deep concern over the broader implications for civil liberties: “We all deserve the presumption of innocence and the constitutional protections that our forefathers fought and died for…this case acts as a canary in the coalmine of the damage caused when absolute powers go without adequate checks and balances.”
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