Byron Man Formally Charged in Online Child Solicitation Case

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - Formal charges have been filed against a Byron man who was arrested this week in Rochester in connection with an investigation into the online solicitation of minors.

The criminal complaint filed in Olmsted County Court against 48-year-old William Douglas Pirkl indicates a Rochester police officer operating an undercover account on a social media app posing as a 14-year-old girl was contacted by an individual who engaged in a sexual conversation and sent a series of nude photos of himself. According to court document, the investigator was able to determine that the account used by that person was associated with Pirkl.

The charges stated that the person behind the online conversation asked for the age of the undercover officer and was told that she was a 14-year-old girl. The criminal complaint also noted that Pirkl had contact with law enforcement in August of last year, when he was accused of showing an employee of a store a photo of his genitals.

The court document details a series of sexually explicit online communications allegedly between Pirkl and the undercover officer. It was alleged that he sent eight photos of his genitals and asked to arrange a meeting with the 14-year-old girl.

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The criminal complaint indicates Pirkl was arrested on April 22 after arranging a meeting at a restaurant near a school in northwest Rochester for the purpose of a sexual encounter. Upon his arrival at the business, the court document says Pirkl was instructed to go inside, where he was taken into custody and his cell phone was confiscated.

Pirkl is charged with felony counts of 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. Following his arraignment he was released without bail and was ordered to return to court in June.