Ex-UND Cop Paul Meagher Gets 10 Years for Child Porn

Paul Bradley Meagher, 43, of Grand Forks, ND, is headed to federal prison for a decade after being sentenced on February 6, 2017, for possession and distribution of child pornography. U.S. District Judge Ralph R. Erickson handed down the 10-year sentence, underscoring the severity of crimes committed by someone once sworn to protect the public.

Meagher, a former officer with the University of North Dakota Police Department, was also ordered to serve 10 years of supervised release following his prison term. He must pay a $300 special assessment to the Crime Victims’ Fund and restitution totaling $16,000. The financial penalties reflect both the legal costs and the human toll of his actions.

The investigation began in the fall of 2015, when law enforcement detected an IP address in Grand Forks tied to a hidden network used to trade child pornography. Despite efforts to mask his digital footprint, investigators quickly traced the activity back to Meagher. The discovery that a sworn law enforcement officer was at the center of the operation sent shockwaves through the local community and law enforcement ranks.

On November 3, 2015, the North Dakota Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force executed a search warrant at Meagher’s home. Agents seized multiple electronic devices containing more than 50,000 images and videos of child sexual abuse. The sheer volume and nature of the material painted a damning picture of a man who exploited the most vulnerable while wearing a badge.

U.S. Attorney Christopher C. Myers made it clear: “The protection of children is a priority for all law enforcement in North Dakota and no matter who you are, if you choose to harm a child the response will be swift and sure.” Special Agent in Charge Alex Khu of HSI St. Paul added, “It’s disturbing when someone seeks to harm a child – even more so when that person is in a position of public trust and abandons their sworn duty.”

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Puhl as part of Project Safe Childhood, a federal initiative targeting online child exploitation. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and supported by the ICAC Task Force, the program strengthens investigations and prosecutions of tech-facilitated child abuse. With 61 task forces nationwide, the ICAC network continues to dismantle networks of predators—and Meagher’s conviction stands as a stark warning to those who hide behind authority.