Cd’A man charged with possession, distribution of child sexual abuse material
KAYE THORNBRUGH | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 9 months, 2 weeks AGO
Kaye Thornbrugh is a second-generation Kootenai County resident who has been with the Coeur d’Alene Press for six years. She primarily covers Kootenai County’s government, as well as law enforcement, the legal system and North Idaho College. | December 30, 2025 1:00 AM
COEUR d’ALENE — A Coeur d’Alene man who allegedly admitted to sharing child sexual abuse material in group chats is facing felony charges.
Brendan M. Shea, 27, is charged with one count of sexual exploitation of a child by distribution of sexually exploitative material and five counts of sexual exploitation of a child by possession of sexually exploitative material.
Shea was arrested last Wednesday on a $100,000 warrant and appeared in court Monday through a video feed from jail. His bail remains set at $100,000.
The charges stem from October 2024, when police received tips about possible child sexual abuse material shared on the instant messaging app Kik. Police reviewed the content submitted with the tips, including several files “that are sexually exploitive in nature” and one file that appeared to be child sexual abuse material.
In August of this year, investigators obtained a search warrant for the Kik accounts associated with the tips, according to court records, and then obtained a search warrant for Shea’s residence in Coeur d’Alene. Police seized a cellphone belonging to Shea that contained 10 photos and videos depicting child sexual abuse. The children recorded in the material appeared to be between 5 and 12 years old.
When interviewed by police, Shea allegedly said the Kik accounts police had investigated belonged to him. He told police that he had participated for several years in group chats on Kik and the messaging app Telegram, where users shared child sexual abuse material, according to court records.
“He admitted to sharing the images by forwarding them,” a police report said.
In Idaho, sexual exploitation of a child by possession of sexually exploitative material is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. Distribution of sexually exploitative material carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $50,000.
ARTICLES BY KAYE THORNBRUGH
Stateline shooter pleads guilty to manslaughter
A DoorDash driver who fatally shot a pedestrian during a road rage incident near Stateline Speedway has pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter, though whether a judge will accept the pretrial settlement offer in the case remains to be seen.
Stateline shooter pleads guilty to manslaughter
Prosecutors originally charged Edsel Johnson with first-degree murder
A DoorDash driver who fatally shot a pedestrian during a road rage incident near Stateline Speedway has pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter, though whether a judge will accept the pretrial settlement offer in the case remains to be seen.
Kootenai County history revealed
Community members get close-up look at time capsule contents
Liz Boutin is no stranger to historical artifacts. A museum professional and fine artist, Boutin said she's handled Egyptian and Greek items that date back to antiquity. But she had a new experience this summer, after local historical preservationists retrieved a 100-year time capsule from inside the outer wall of the old Kootenai County courthouse.