The U.S. Attorney’s Office alleged that Robert Edwards possessed multiple devices containing child sexual abuse material.

Squatty Potty creator featured on Shark Tank arrested on child pornography charge

The U.S. Attorney's Office alleged that Robert Edwards possessed multiple devices containing child sexual abuse material.

By Wesley Stenzel

Wesley Stenzel is a news writer at **. He began writing for EW in 2022.

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February 25, 2026 5:34 p.m. ET

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Robert Edwards on 'Shark Tank'. Credit:

- Squatty Potty creator Robert Edwards was indicted, arrested, and charged with receipt of child pornography.

- Edwards pleaded not guilty to the charge.

- The U.S. Attorney's Office alleged that an undercover FBI operation found Edwards in a chatroom that was viewing child pornography in 2021.

Robert Edwards, the creator of the Squatty Potty, has pleaded not guilty to a child pornography charge.

The businessman, who appeared on *Shark Tank* in 2014, was indicted by a federal grand jury on Feb. 10 and arrested on Feb. 12 in Washington County, Utah, according to the United States Attorney's Office. He was charged with receipt of child pornography and pleaded not guilty in his initial appearance on the indictment.

The USAO alleged that Edwards "knowingly received multiple images of child sexual abuse material" on multiple occasions between March 2021 and November. An undercover FBI agent infiltrated a group chat that "was viewing a collection of child sexual abuse material videos" in March 2021, and Edwards was allegedly among the users in the chat.

Robert Edwards and Judy Edwards on 'Shark Tank'. ABC

FBI agents later learned that "Edwards was suspected of purchasing additional child sexual abuse material via his PayPal account" in May 2025, the UASO alleged. After law enforcement executed a search warrant on the entrepreneur's person and residence, officers allegedly discovered "multiple videos and images" of child pornography on a cell phone found in his car, and also allegedly discovered more child sex abuse material after searching other devices in his home.

Edwards' detention hearing is scheduled for March 2 in St. George, Utah.

Edwards did not immediately respond to **'s request for comment.

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The entrepreneur began selling the Squatty Potty, a specialty footstool that helps assist in bowel movements by changing toilet posture, alongside his mother Judy in 2010. Sales skyrocketed after they appeared on *Shark Tank* in 2014 and received a $350,000 investment from shark Lori Greiner.

The Edwardses appeared on *Shark Tank* again in 2020, and Robert revealed that the company had sold $175 million worth of Squatty Potties since his original appearance on the show.

Squatty Potty was acquired by consumer product company Aterian in 2021. The brand issued a statement on its website following Edwards' indictment that distanced the product from its creator, and also removed mentions of the Squatty Potty's origins from the site.

"Aterian has no affiliation, partnership, or ongoing relationship with Mr. Robert Edwards. Edwards was part of a group, including private equity firms, that sold specific assets to Aterian in a one-time transaction in 2021," the statement begins. "Following the completion of that acquisition, all associations with Edwards and his family ceased. He is not an employee, a partner, or a stakeholder in our company.  Any claims to the contrary are categorically false."

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The statement continued, "We are deeply disturbed by the indictment against Edwards. The nature of these allegations is abhorrent and wholly inconsistent with our company’s values. While the family was previously referenced on our website in a historical context, we have removed those references. They have no role in our brand’s present or future."

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