Hawkeye Reporter

A Sioux City man has been sentenced to more than five years in federal prison for possession of child pornography. Priest Morris, 21, received the sentence on September 12, 2025, after pleading guilty earlier this year.

According to evidence presented during plea and sentencing hearings, Morris used social media applications including Discord, Twitter, Telegram, and Snapchat between January and August 2024 to receive, distribute, and possess visual depictions of child pornography. The materials included images involving prepubescent minors and children under the age of 12.

The investigation began when the Sioux City Police Department received two CyberTips regarding a Snapchat account uploading child pornography. Authorities traced the account back to Morris. When law enforcement executed a search warrant on his electronic devices, Morris admitted he had received and possessed child pornography on his phone and iPad. Forensic analysis revealed that Morris possessed over 1,500 images and six videos depicting child pornography. Some of these materials involved sadistic or masochistic conduct as well as infants and toddlers.

"This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006, by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.  Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.  For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”"

Project Safe Childhood is an effort by federal authorities in partnership with state and local agencies to address crimes involving sexual exploitation of children.