Squatty Potty Co-Founder Faces Federal Child Exploitation Charges in Utah
Federal prosecutors in Utah have unsealed a serious indictment against a southern Utah businessman renowned for co-creating the popular toilet stool brand Squatty Potty. A federal grand jury has formally charged Robert Edwards, aged 50 and residing in Ivins, with the receipt of child sexual abuse material earlier this month.
Arrest and Initial Court Proceedings
Court records reveal that Edwards was arrested in Washington County and made his initial appearance in St. George, where he entered a plea of not guilty. A magistrate judge ordered him held in custody pending further legal proceedings, remanding him to the custody of the United States Marshals Service. The case is being prosecuted in the District of Utah and represents a significant component of a broader federal effort targeting online child exploitation. Prosecutors emphasize that an indictment constitutes an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
Details of the Indictment and Alleged Timeline
The indictment was returned on February 10 and unsealed days later, with Edwards arrested on February 12. According to the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah, the alleged criminal conduct commenced in March 2021 and persisted through November 2025. The prosecution is actively handling the case, underscoring its gravity within federal legal frameworks.
Investigation Uncovered Online Chat and Payment Records
Court filings detail that in March 2021, an undercover agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation infiltrated an online group chat suspected of being utilized for trading child sexual abuse material. Investigators allege that participants in this virtual meeting room streamed explicit videos, with one visible individual later identified as Edwards. The investigation extended over several years, culminating in May 2025 when agents reportedly discovered four PayPal transactions linked to Edwards, suspected of facilitating purchases related to child sexual abuse material. Authorities assert that this evidence provided a foundational basis for subsequent legal action.
Search Warrant Execution and Device Seizure
On November 4, 2025, law enforcement executed a search warrant on Edwards’s person and at his residence. Agents seized a mobile phone from his vehicle, which prosecutors allege contained multiple explicit images and videos involving minors, including files downloaded shortly before the search. Additional electronic devices were confiscated from the residence, with court documents indicating that investigators located further files believed to contain child sexual abuse material, strengthening the case against him.
Connection to Project Safe Childhood Initiative
This prosecution is being pursued under the Project Safe Childhood initiative, a nationwide program launched by the Department of Justice in 2006 to combat child exploitation. The initiative coordinates federal, state, and local resources to identify suspects and protect victims, highlighting the collaborative approach in such sensitive cases. A detention hearing is scheduled for early March in St. George, marking the next phase in pretrial proceedings where the burden of proof rests squarely with prosecutors.
