Pierz Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing Child Pornography

Moments before this morning’s scheduled start of his trial in federal court in Duluth, a 48-year-old man from the northern Minnesota community of Pierz plead guilty to one count of possession of child pornography. James Daniel Jaschke appeared before United States District Court Judge John R. Tunheim to enter his plea. He was indicted on June 15, 2010.

Jaschke admitted to Judge Tunheim that between August 31 and September 23, 2009, he possessed two video tapes that contained visual depictions of a girl under the age of 12 engaged in sexually explicit activity. He further admitted the tapes, which included no fewer than 300 images, portrayed sadistic or masochistic conduct and other depictions of violence.

For his crime, Jaschke faces a potential maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Judge Tunheim will determine his sentence at a future hearing, yet to be scheduled. This case is the result of an investigation by the Morrison County Sheriff’s Office, the Morrison County Department of Social Services, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The U.S. Department of Justice is committed to combating the sexual exploitation of children, particularly via the Internet. For more information about these efforts, please visit the Department’s Project Safe Childhood website, at www.projectsafechildhood.gov.