Former Linn County sheriff’s reserve deputy charged with child porn

UPDATE: This article was updated on the morning of July 7, to note that Grabau was placed on administrative leave immediately and resigned on July 17, acccording to a Linn County Sheriff’s Office news release.

CEDAR RAPIDS — A federal magistrate on Wednesday ruled Wednesday that a former Linn County sheriff’s reserve deputy and TSA officer will remain in jail pending his trial on federal child pornography charges.

During a detention hearing Wednesday, an FBI agent testified that law enforcement found nearly 200,000 images of child pornography last July in the residence and former photography business of Gordon Grabau, 51, of Marion, who was a volunteer reserve deputy until last July.

Reserve deputies assist deputies in routine activities, such as traffic and crowd control and court security. In most cases, they have the power of arrest.

Grabau has pleaded not guilty to one count each of receiving child pornography and possessing child pornography, and his trial is set for Aug. 29 in U.S. District Court.

At the detention hearing, FBI Special Agent Kent Moore testified the investigation started in April 2021 when law enforcement found child pornography was received and being shared with others by internet addresses associated with Grabau at his Marion residence.

During the search last July, law enforcement found more than 100 electronic devices — thumb drives and external drives — and at least five of those contained nearly 200,000 child pornography images. Officers also found several long guns in drawers, Moore said.

The FBI was brought in to investigate the case to avoid any conflict of interest.

Linn County Sheriff Brian Gardner was at Grabau’s residence during the search to retrieve any items belonging to the county, such as clothing and equipment, Moore said.

Gardner said Thursday that Grabau was immediately placed on administrative leave, pending the outcome of the investigation. The administrative leave status prohibited Grabau from participating in any departmental operations and department sponsored activities, including extra jobs, and/or the use of any departmental resources.

On July 17, 2021, Grabau submitted his letter of resignation as a reserve deputy. He had been with the department since 2000.

Grabau was indicted by a grand jury last month for receiving child pornography and possession of child pornography but wasn’t arrested until last week at his Marion residence.

During the arrest, the FBI and a SWAT team had to “breach” the building’s door because Grabau and his brother didn’t immediately come out after a flashbang device was detonated and agents, over a PA system, told Grabau to leave the house, Moore said.

Grabau was cooperative once he surrendered, Moore said.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Morfitt asked the court to keep Grabau in jail pending trial because child pornography qualifies as a crime of violence, the weight of the evidence is strong and Grabau had a “massive” amount of pornography, which can impact his sentencing, if he is convicted.

Christopher Nathan, Grabau’s lawyer, argued Grabau isn’t a flight risk because he has ties to the community and could live with his brother pending trial. He also has no criminal history and had worked in law enforcement until last year.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark Roberts agreed with the prosecution. The judge also said he was concerned about the length of time Grabau had been collecting and sharing images — since 2012 until July 2021.

Roberts concluded Grabau posed a danger to the community and was a flight risk in ordering him to remain in jail.

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