Pierz man indicted for producing child pornography

MINNEAPOLIS - The U.S. attorney's office in Minneapolis has reported a federal indictment recently unsealed alleges a 48-year-old Pierz man produced a video of an 11-year-old girl engaging in sexually explicit activity.

The indictment, which was filed under seal on June 15, in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis, charges James Daniel Jaschke with one count of production of child pornography in connection to this crime. The indictment was unsealed following Jaschke's initial appearance in federal court last week.

The indictment alleges that on Sept. 23, 2009, Jaschke induced and coerced the girl to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing visual depictions of that conduct. The images were made with a home security camera and video player.

If convicted, Jaschke faces a potential maximum penalty of 30 years in prison with a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years. All sentences will be determined by a federal district court judge. This case is the result of an investigation by the Morrison County Sheriff's Department and the FBI.

The case is also part of Project Safe Childhood, a national initiative to combat the growing epidemic of sexually exploiting children, particularly through the Internet. For more information about PSC, visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.