Prairieburg Man Pleads Guilty to Sexually Exploiting Children

A Prairieburg man who used Snapchat, Instagram, and text messages to persuade children to engage in sexually explicit conduct and send him photographs and videos of this conduct pleaded guilty on Thursday in federal court in Cedar Rapids.

37-year old Bryce Hans Plower was convicted of sexual exploitation of children and possession of child pornography. 

In a plea agreement, Plower admitted that he persuaded, induced, and enticed multiple children to send him sexually explicit images and videos of themselves. At least two children under the age of 16 did so. Plower paid the children, sometimes as little as $1, so that they would continue to send him sexually explicit images. Plower also possessed photographs and videos of child pornography on his phone, including images of sadistic or masochistic conduct. 

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.  

Sentencing has not yet been set, with Plower currently in custody of the United States Marshal. He faces anywhere from 15 to 50 years in prison.

information courtesy of U.S. Attorney’s Office Northern District of Iowa