Ohio Man Charged In Minnesota CSAM Case Found Dead In Jail Cell

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — A 54-year-old Ohio man facing federal child sexual abuse material charges in Minnesota was found dead Thursday morning in his cell at the Sherburne County Jail, according to the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office.

Detention staff found Steven Scott Gordon, of Curtice, Ohio, hanging in his cell around 11:24 a.m. on Sept. 11. Staff attempted lifesaving measures before Gordon was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead, officials said. No foul play is suspected.

The Anoka County Sheriff’s Office and the Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office are investigating the death.

Earlier this summer, federal prosecutors charged Gordon with the production of child sexual abuse material.

According to court documents, Gordon posed online as a 20-year-old woman and encouraged a Minnesota man to produce images and videos of child sexual abuse. FBI investigators in Ohio later recovered child sexual abuse material from Gordon’s computer, including files produced in Minnesota.

Gordon was arraigned in May and ordered to remain in custody pending further proceedings, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.