Jon Max Rasmussen Jr., 43, a former corrections sergeant with the Mille Lacs County Sheriff’s Office, has been charged in Benton County Court with five felony counts of possessing child sexual abuse material. He was arrested last Wednesday and, according to local officials, has since been removed from his position at the county jail.
According to KSTP, Benton County investigators say a July 2024 tip tied to the Kik messaging app led them to a user account allegedly linked to Rasmussen. Court documents reviewed by KSTP state that Rasmussen admitted he downloaded Kik more than a year ago “to cheat his wife” and that he viewed and traded child sexual abuse material with other users on the platform.
In a statement to KSTP, Mille Lacs County Sheriff Kyle Burton said, “I can confirm that Jon Rasmussen Jr was charged by Benton County with possession and dissemination of child sexual abuse materials.” Burton told the outlet that he placed Rasmussen on administrative leave as soon as he was notified of the investigation and that Rasmussen is no longer employed by the sheriff’s office.
Charges Under State Law
Under Minnesota law, having or distributing child sexual abuse material is a felony. Minn. Stat. 617.247 outlines potential prison time and fines for these offenses, with stiffer penalties if the person has prior convictions or if the images involve very young victims. The statute also allows for conditional release and other post-release requirements once a sentence is served.
How Platform Tips Lead to Investigations
Cases like this often start when tech platforms or individual users flag suspected illegal content to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s CyberTipline, which then routes those tips to local law enforcement, according to the Senate Judiciary Committee. Local reporting has shown that messaging apps can be the starting point for similar probes; for instance, a Kik-linked bust in another state began when investigators traced an account on the same platform to an accused defendant.
Other Minnesota Cases
Prosecutors across Minnesota have continued to bring child sexual abuse material cases, including a March sentencing of a former Cass County deputy on possession charges. That case highlighted that investigators will follow digital evidence trails whether the suspect is a private citizen or employed in public safety, as reported by Valley News Live.
The Benton County case against Rasmussen is still pending in district court. For now, court filings remain the primary public window into the allegations, and prosecutors will determine whether any additional charges are warranted as the investigation moves forward. Rasmussen is presumed innocent unless and until he is found guilty in a court of law.
