Alison J. Ramsdell U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota
A Minnesota man has been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for the production of child pornography. Jason Honetschlager, 45, was indicted by a federal grand jury in November 2023 and pleaded guilty on September 30, 2024.
U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann delivered the sentence on June 16, 2025. Upon release, Honetschlager will be required to register as a sex offender.
The investigation revealed that throughout 2023, Honetschlager targeted teenagers in the Milbank, South Dakota area for sexually explicit images and acts. He used Snapchat to entice minors and provided them with tobacco and marijuana products in exchange for these images and acts. Law enforcement became aware of his actions after a video surfaced showing him forcing a young teenage girl to perform oral sex on him. The investigation identified eight minor victims.
“Honetschlager’s actions are almost unspeakable,” stated U.S. Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell. “But unfortunately, this type of conduct is becoming more commonplace on social media platforms. We are fortunate to have sophisticated and dedicated law enforcement agents and prosecutors working to hold these offenders responsible, but it is imperative we all join the fight against child exploitation.”
Ramsdell urged parents to talk openly with their children about social media use and be vigilant for signs of exploitation such as abruptly deleting accounts or unexplained gifts.
The case was investigated by the Milbank Police Department, the Division of Criminal Investigation, and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth A. Ebert-Webb prosecuted the case.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse through collaboration among federal, state, and local resources.
Following his sentencing, Honetschlager was remanded into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service.
