Millcreek man accused of uploading CSAM to social media, ‘seeking out’ minors online

MILLCREEK, Utah (ABC4) — A man living in Millcreek has been arrested and charged with uploading and viewing child sexual exploitation material (CSAM). He also allegedly confessed to having sexual conversations with children online.

Michael Patrick Zimmermann, 37, was charged with ten counts of sexual exploitation of a minor today. These charges are second-degree felonies, filed by the Utah Attorney General’s Office.

According to court documents, on Dec. 17, 2024, a social media company reported an account to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) for uploading CSAM. NCMEC forwarded the tip along to the Utah Attorney General’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) for investigation.

ICAC used the information from the tip to investigate, locate, and identify the user as Zimmermann. They determined that Zimmermann had allegedly uploaded the CSAM while at his residence in Millcreek.

On Sept. 9, 2025, law enforcement served a search warrant at Zimmermann’s house. The 37-year-old was read his Miranda warning, and his cell phone was seized for an investigation.

During an interview with investigators, Zimmermann allegedly admitted to owning the social media account from the tip. Documents say that he told law enforcement that he had been viewing CSAM since 2007, and the last time he had viewed it was the night before.

According to documents, Zimmermann also said that he would “intentionally seek out” minors online and ask them to create CSAM. ICAC has opened an investigation into these alleged sexual conversations with children.

The 37-year-old told investigators that they would find CSAM on his phone during the interview. Through an initial analysis of Zimmermann’s phone, ICAC reportedly located hundreds of files of CSAM, some involving very young children.

Zimmermann was arrested and booked into the Salt Lake County Jail, where he is currently being held without bail. A no-bail warrant has been proposed to hold him in jail until his trial.