Former Rochester, MN Cop Sentenced for Witness Tampering

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- A former Rochester Police Officer was sentenced Friday morning for a witness tampering conviction.  

Get our free mobile app

45-year-old Joshua Laber entered a plea agreement in which he admitted to a felony witness tampering charge this past April. In exchange the prosecution dropped a criminal sexual conduct charge. 

An Olmsted County Judge Sentenced Labor to a five year probation term. His punishment also requires a 45-day jail term with work release at the Olmsted County Adult Detention Center that must begin no later than July 31. Laber is also ordered to pay a $1,500 fine. 

Court documents say the victim had previously told Olmsted County Social Services that she suspected Laber was photographing or recording her while she was showering and reported finding "some sort of camera" in a bathroom after taking a shower. 

Rochester Police then executed a search warrant and discovered multiple images of suspected child pornography depicting girls between 10 and 12 years old, which led to a child pornography charge against Laber that was dismissed by the court last year. 

The witness tampering charge was filed in April 2021 after investigators learned that Laber had been communicating with the girl on social media about "changing her story." Laber was a member of the Rochester Police Department for nine years before he resigned in 2015.