State Charges Dismissed for Federal Prosecution of North Iowa Man for Child Porn Possession

More than a dozen state counts of child pornography possession against a north Iowa man have been dismissed so he can be federally prosecuted. 

In January, Osage Police arrested 44-year-old Damon Powers on a warrant stemming from an investigation that began last summer. Court records show that in June 2025, two electronic storage devices seized from Powers’ Osage residence were sent into the State for forensic examination.  

During an interview with Powers, he allegedly admitted to receiving images of child porn, with the forensic exam finding a video over one-minute in length showing what appeared to be an adult male involved with a fully nude child, approximately one to three years old in age.

Powers was charged with 15 counts of purchase/possess depiction of a minor in a sex act, all Class D felonies, and his trial was slated for  April 29th in Mitchell County District Court.

However, last Friday (04.10), Mitchell County Attorney William Baresel filed a motion to dismiss all counts against Powers on a request from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, which has indicted Powers on federal charges in the case. 

On Monday (04.13), Judge Elizabeth Batey officially approved the dismissal of the state charges against Powers.