Authorities Arrest Apple Valley Man Facing Child Porn Charges

An Apple Valley man has been arrested on a warrant issued last week.

Jason Allan Schmidt, 39, was charged in June with six counts of possessing pornographic images of children as young as 4.

A warrant for Schmidt’s arrest was issued July 7. He was arrested Monday in Hastings and remains in the Dakota County Jail on a $25,000 bond. If he posts bond, the conditions of his release include no access to the Internet and no contact with females under the age of 18.

According to the complaint against him, authorities began investigating Schmidt last July after tracing pornographic computer images to his IP address. 

Schmidt acknowledged to investigators that he had pornography on his computer involving children who were “pretty young,” according to the complaint.

He also told authorities that his “biggest fear” was getting caught with child pornography.

Each of the six counts against Schmidt carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. An omnibus hearing in his case is scheduled for Aug. 8 in Dakota County District Court in Hastings.