Marina
The Iowa State University Police Department (ISU PD) has successfully concluded a months-long investigation involving the distribution and possession of child sexual abuse material, leading to the arrest of a former student.
Investigation Initiated by National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
The investigation began in February 2024, when ISU PD was alerted by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). The organization reported a possible incident involving a subject allegedly sharing child exploitation content on social media platforms.
Authorities identified the suspect as Jacob P. Sauer, a 21-year-old from Olathe, Kansas, who was enrolled at Iowa State University at the time.
Arrest and Charges Filed
Sauer was taken into custody in Kansas on a Tuesday and is now awaiting extradition to Iowa. He is facing the following charges:
| Charge Description | Category |
|---|---|
| 1 count of sexual exploitation of a minor | Class B Felony |
| 8 counts of possession of minors in sexual depictions | Class D Felony (8 counts) |
| 1 count of possession of a controlled substance | Serious Misdemeanor |
Evidence Found in Kansas Home
Search warrants executed in Kansas uncovered alarming amounts of illicit material. Authorities discovered over 1,000 files containing child sexual abuse content on electronic devices seized from Sauer’s home.
Additionally, Snapchat submitted six CyberTip reports related to Sauer’s verified phone number. His Snapchat account was suspended after it was found to contain a folder labeled “My Eyes Only,” which housed videos of a female child believed to be between 10 and 12 years old.
Ames Search and Electronic Seizures
Snapchat’s geolocation tracking placed Sauer in the 2700 block of Lincoln Way in Ames, Iowa. On March 7, 2024, authorities executed a search warrant at his apartment in Ames.
From this search, Sauer was initially arrested and extradited to Kansas, where he faced 10 counts of sexual exploitation of a child.
Police seized 11 electronic devices, including:
- 3 iPhones
- 2 iPads
- 1 LG smartphone
- 1 MacBook
- 1 USB drive
- 1 gaming PC
- 1 external hard drive
Additionally, law enforcement found psilocybin mushrooms and THC edibles at the scene.
In one of the iPhones, investigators discovered a hidden folder with over 4,000 images and 700 videos, many involving pornographic content of prepubescent and pubescent children.
Legal Outcome and Sentencing
Sauer is no longer enrolled at Iowa State University.
In June 2024, Sauer entered a guilty plea to three charges in Kansas, and the remaining seven charges were dismissed.
Per Kansas court records, he received a sentence of 34 months per charge, but the court granted him probation instead of jail time.
This case serves as a critical reminder of the role technology and social media platforms play in both enabling and combating online child exploitation. Thanks to coordination between the NCMEC, ISU PD, and law enforcement in Kansas, a disturbing criminal case was brought to light.
While the outcome included probation, the arrest sends a message of zero tolerance toward child exploitation crimes, and the importance of vigilance in digital spaces.