North Iowa Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Federal Prison for Child Pornography
A north Iowa man has been sentenced to over a decade in federal prison for possession of child pornography.
At the plea and sentencing hearings, evidence showed that from August 2022 through April 2024, 46-year-old Cleon Mitchell, Jr. of Mason City, used the applications Kik and Snapchat to receive and possess visual depictions of child pornography which involved a prepubescent minor or minor under the age of 12. Snapchat reported Mitchell’s account to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children who in turn reported the information to law enforcement.
Investigators connected the account back to Mitchell and obtained a search warrant for his home and electronics, when Mitchell admitted he had received and possessed child pornography, and it would be located on his phone. Forensic analysis of his electronics showed Mitchell possessed 30 videos and 50 images of child pornography including materials that portrayed sadistic or masochistic conduct as well as prepubescent children and toddlers.
Mitchell also later admitted he had engaged in a pattern of activity involving the sexual abuse or exploitation of a minor and he plead guilty to Lascivious Acts with a Child in February 2025 in Cerro Gordo County District Court.
He pled guilty to a federal charge in April and on Thursday (09.04), United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand sentenced Mitchell to 12 years in federal prison and to serve a five-year term of supervised release following his prison sentence.
Mitchell remains in custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was investigated by the Mason City Police Department and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigations.
