A 67-year-old former executive director of a St. Paul faith-based nonprofit who had child sexual abuse material at his Roseville home has been spared prison time. Drew Michael Brooks (Courtesy of the Ramsey County Sheriff's Office) At Faith Partners, Drew Michael Brooks provided “leadership, admin istration and training” to “people of faith to serve with an informed, compassionate response to the risk and prevalence of addiction,” according to a now-deleted webpage. In May, Brooks was charged in Ramsey County District Court with 12 counts of possession of child pornography after investigators — following tips to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children — executed a search warrant at his home in 2024 and found 36 printed images of child sexual abuse material and more on his computer. Brooks told police he is “not necessarily” sexually attracted to children and “described an attraction/repulsion dynamic along with novelty (that) makes him seek the material out,” the criminal complaint read. Brooks pleaded guilty to three of the dozen counts after reaching a plea deal with the prosecution, which agreed to a downward departure to five years of probation and no additional jail time beyond the day he had served after his arrest and before posting bond. Judge Thomas Gilligan Jr. followed the plea deal and gave Brooks a five-year stayed prison sentence on Jan. 27, while citing his amenability to probation and sex offender treatment, and his remorse. Related Articles St. Paul man gets 7-year prison term for daytime carjacking and armed robbery Hennepin County Attorney’s Office demands evidence in Renee Good investigation Resignations in U.S. Attorney’s Office could slow MN fraud cases Judge says she won’t halt the immigration enforcement surge in Minnesota as a lawsuit proceeds Journalists Georgia Fort, Don Lemon among 4 more arrested in St. Paul church protest ...read more read less