Mower Co. Austin Man Charged in Child Exploitation Case
Mower County ( trfnews.i234.me ) – An Austin man is facing multiple felony charges related to child sexual abuse material. Court records show Jason Dean Vandeweerd, 40, has been charged in Mower County District Court with one count of producing child sexual abuse material and 13 counts of possession of child sexual abuse material.
According to the criminal complaint, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children notified the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension after a Microsoft Bing account uploaded suspected files to BingImage. Investigators traced internet addresses connected to the uploads and obtained a search warrant for Vandeweerd’s home in May 2025.
When asked if his devices contained illegal material, Vandeweerd allegedly responded, “I mean possibly.” Investigators reported discovering a video clip on one of his devices that appeared to be created in his living room, based on items visible in the footage. A forensic review of a portable drive found more than 82,000 images and 12,000 videos of suspected child sexual abuse material collected between July 2020 and May 2025.
Vandeweerd was booked into the Mower County Jail and is being held on a $200,000 bond. His initial court appearance is scheduled for Sept. 22 in Mower County District Court. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children provides resources for reporting and preventing child exploitation.
Those experiencing sexual exploitation or abuse can call a 24-hour crisis line at 507-289-0636 to be connected with support services.
All charges remain allegations at this stage. Vandeweerd is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News
Jason Dean Vandeweerd