Squatty Potty Creator Robert Edwards Arrested on Child Pornography Charge
Robert "Bobby" Edwards, 50, the co-founder of the viral bathroom product Squatty Potty and a former Shark Tank participant, has been indicted and arrested on a federal child pornography charge. He appeared in court in St. George, Utah, and has pleaded not guilty.
The Charges
A federal grand jury in the District of Utah indicted Edwards on February 10, 2026. He was arrested two days later in Washington County, Utah, and charged with one count of receipt of child pornography. After pleading not guilty at his initial appearance, he was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service and ordered held without bail.
How the Investigation Began
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, the case traces back to March 2021, when an undercover FBI agent joined an online group chat used to trade child sexual abuse material. Videos were being streamed in the meeting room, and Edwards was allegedly among the visible participants. Investigators later linked Edwards to purchases of child sexual abuse material through a payment account flagged in May 2025.
On November 4, 2025, federal agents executed a search warrant at Edwards' home in Ivins, Utah. Officers seized a cellphone from his vehicle that contained multiple videos and images of child sexual abuse material, some downloaded just two weeks before the search. Additional devices recovered from his residence also contained child sexual abuse material files.
When agents spoke with Edwards following the arrest, he disclosed a methamphetamine addiction and said he had recently completed rehabilitation. He denied viewing any child sexual abuse material and invoked his right to counsel. Court records separately show he pleaded guilty to drug-related offenses in Utah's 5th District Court in November 2023.
A change of plea hearing was scheduled for March 30, according to court records.
Who Is Robert Edwards?
Edwards co-founded Squatty Potty with his mother, Judy Edwards, in 2011. The product — a curved footstool designed to change posture while using the toilet — became a household name after the pair appeared on Shark Tank in 2014 and received a $350,000 investment from shark Lori Greiner. Sales exploded after the appearance, and by the time the family returned for a follow-up episode in 2020, the company had sold an estimated $175 million worth of products.
The Edwards family sold Squatty Potty to consumer goods company Aterian Inc. in 2021. The sale price has been reported at figures ranging from $19 million to $30 million across various sources.
Squatty Potty's Response
Aterian moved quickly to distance itself from Edwards following the indictment. The company issued a statement clarifying that Edwards holds no current role with the brand and that all ties ended at the time of the 2021 acquisition. The company also removed references to the Edwards family from its website.
"We are deeply disturbed by the indictment against Edwards. The nature of these allegations is abhorrent and wholly inconsistent with our company's values," Aterian said in the statement.
What He Faces
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Burton and investigated by the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office as part of Project Safe Childhood, a Department of Justice initiative targeting child exploitation. A conviction on receipt of child pornography carries a federal prison sentence of up to 20 years.
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