Six counts of sexual exploitation of a child have been filed against Katie Heidinger, 31, of Velva, and Derrick Stephen Walker, 43, of Minot, in U.S. District Court. In addition, Heidinger has been charged in U.S. District Court with distribution of images depicting the sexual exploitation of children and Walker has been charged with receipt of images depicting the sexual exploitation of children.

Both Heidinger and Walker had previously been charged in district court. According to court affidavits, the McHenry County Sheriff’s Department tipped off the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation after they received a report that Heidinger had sexually abused the three young boys in McHenry County, taken video recordings and still images of the abuse with her cell phone, and shared them with Walker via Snap Chat. Heidinger admitted abusing the boys and sending the images to Walker between August 2019 and Monday, Jan. 6.

Heidinger was charged in district court in McHenry County with three counts of Class AA felony gross sexual imposition for allegedly sexually abusing three boys ranging in age from 1 to 6, Class A felony promoting an obscene performance by a minor child for allegedly recording herself sexually abusing a small boy, and Class C felony possession of child pornography for the images found on her cell phone.

Walker was charged in district court in Ward County with three counts of Class C felony possession of child pornography.

Court records show that a jury trial has been set for March 31 in U.S. District Court for Heidinger and Walker.