Air Force Deserter Facing Child Porn Charges May Be In Minnesota

St. Paul, MN (KROC-AM News) - A statewide alert has been issued for a deserter from the US Air Force.

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension indicates the alert was posted at the request of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations. The subject is 27-year-old Branden Cecil Standifer.

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According to the alert, the Airman First Class is wanted for flight to avoid prosecution and desertion from the Armed Forces of the United States. Air Force officials say he was about to be court-martialed on charges of possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material when he fled to avoid prosecution last Friday.

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The BCA was asked to distribute the alert throughout Minnesota because a mobile device associated with Standifer "pinged" in the Inver Grove Heights area. At this point, his whereabouts are unknown.

Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension photo

The alert states that he was last seen on a surveillance camera video at Bozeman Yellowstone Airport in Montana just before 2 AM on Saturday. He was traveling with a hiking backpack.

Air Force officials say, prior to fleeing, he had expressed suicidal thoughts and left a Journal detailing how he planned to go hiking and jump off a cliff.

Standifer is described as white, 6-feet tall, 160 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes.

Anyone who has seen Standifer or has information about his possible location is asked to call the Air Force Office of Special Investigations at 1-877-246-1453.

If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, visit the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline website. Resource information is provided for free as well as a chat message service. To speak directly to a professional, call 988. You are not alone and help is available. Every life is important.

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