Boulder County, Colo. - On April 7, 2023, 26-year-old Kenneth Glenn Groth was arrested for possessing and distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) via social media applications. Groth was last known to reside out of his vehicle in the Boulder County area.

The investigation began after the Colorado Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force received information about the distribution or possession of CSAM from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). Based on a history of contacts with law enforcement in Boulder County, Growth was known to reside in the area. On March 8, an investigator with the Boulder County Digital Forensics Lab (BCDFL) issued an attempt to locate (ATL) advising law enforcement to seize Groth’s personal electronic devices upon contact with any law enforcement officers. On March 25, Groth was contacted for an unrelated incident by a member of the Boulder Police Department. Due to the ATL issued regarding Groth, a Boulder County Sheriff’s Office deputy responded to the contact and seized electronic devices from Groth. On March 28, an investigator with the BCDFL obtained a search warrant for the seized electronics devices and during forensic analysis of these devices, investigators with the BCDFL located further evidence of the possession and distribution of CSAM.

Boulder County Sheriff’s Office houses local members of Colorado ICAC task force, comprised of Boulder County Digital Forensics Lab investigators from Boulder County Sheriff’s Office, Longmont Department of Public Safety, Boulder Police Department and Boulder County District Attorney’s Office. In addition to other responsibilities, investigators assigned to the Boulder County Digital Forensics Lab are tasked with investigating child sexual exploitation cases and high technology crimes, plus digital forensics expertise and analysis on a wide range of cases.

Groth was booked into the Boulder County Jail on an arrest warrant with no bond for six counts of §18-6-403(3)(b), Sexual exploitation of a child-distribution, Class 3 Felonies, and six counts of §18-6-403(3)(b.5), Sexual exploitation of a child-possession, one Class 4 Felony and five Class 5 Felonies. Groth has since been released on a $25,000 personal recognizance bond.

The associated Boulder County Sheriff’s Office case number is 23-00762.

Agencies who assisted with this investigation include the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office, Boulder County District Attorney’s Office, Boulder Police Department and Longmont Department of Public Safety.

About ICAC:

The Colorado Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC), is a group of local and federal law enforcement agencies, as well as prosecutors located in and around the state of Colorado who are trained and dedicated to protecting children online by investigating and prosecuting crimes committed against children, facilitated by the internet, technology, and computer usage. Colorado ICAC is a member of the National ICAC Task Force.

If you suspect a child is being sexually exploited online, you can report it online (link is external) or by calling 1-800-THE-LOST.

As in every criminal case, these charges are merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty.

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/s/Sergeant Jeff Pelletier