Minnesota man accused of having sexual conversations with Winnebago County deputy posing as juvenile

FOREST CITY — A Minnesota man faces over 30 years in prison after being accused of having sexual conversations with someone he believed to be a 14-year-old girl, but was really a Winnebago County Iowa Sheriff’s deputy posing as an underage juvenile.

A criminal complaint accuses 46-year-old Brian Bauer of Nerstrand Minnesota of attempting to cause a law enforcement officer or agent posing as a minor to engage in prohibited acts between February 1st and March 24th of this year. The complaint details several different alleged online conversations between the undercover deputy and Bauer discussing sexual content, which included Bauer sending photos.

Bauer was arrested on April 23rd and charged with: one count of sexual exploitation of a minor, a Class B felony punishable by up to 25 years in prison; one count of grooming, a Class D felony; and three counts of telephone dissemination of obscene material to a minor, each an aggravated misdemeanor.

Bauer’s arraignment hearing is scheduled for May 6th in Winnebago County District Court.