Beltrami County (trfnews.i234.me) – A former teacher at Voyageurs Expeditionary School in Bemidji is facing multiple felony charges after investigators linked him to online child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
According to a criminal complaint, 30-year-old Austin Lee Claseman was charged Thursday with seven felonies, including two counts of disseminating pornographic work involving minors under age 14 and five counts of possession of pornographic work involving minors under 14.
Federal Tip Triggers Investigation
The case began in June 2025, when the Bemidji Police Department received evidence from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) CyberTipLine. The report contained three files uploaded on April 9, 2025, through a Kik account, showing nude female children estimated to be between 6 and 14 years old.
Through investigation, authorities identified Claseman as the owner of the account.
Search Warrant and Digital Evidence
On June 16, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Claseman’s residence. Items seized included a Samsung phone, an MSI laptop, and three USB drives. Investigators also obtained warrants for his Kik and email accounts.
In the Kik account, police found five additional CSAM images, along with a selfie of Claseman, directly linking him to the uploads.
During questioning, Claseman admitted he was part of a Kik group called “Teachers for Students.” He said pornography was shared in the group but tried to downplay it as “vanilla stuff.” He admitted that some images he downloaded might have been “borderline.”
School Statement
Following his arrest, the Voyageurs Expeditionary School stated on Facebook. While not naming Claseman, the school confirmed a former teacher and board member was in custody and had resigned immediately.
The school emphasized that, “to our knowledge, the alleged conduct did not take place on school grounds or property and did not involve students or staff of the Voyageurs community.”
Next Steps
Claseman remains in custody in Beltrami County Jail as his case moves forward. If convicted, he faces significant prison time under Minnesota law.
For more information on child exploitation reporting and prevention, visit the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.