Baron indicted on federal child porn charges

Ryan Baron, the former Midkota superintendent accused of possessing child pornography and soliciting nude photos from a student, is now facing federal charges.

Baron, age 41, was federally indicted on June 6, and all previous charges filed against him in the Southeast District Court were dismissed on Monday, July 8, to give way to the federal case.

And now, an alleged co-conspirator identified in the indictment has pleaded guilty after reaching a plea agreement with federal prosecutors.

Aaron Doss, a 27-year-old from Fargo, appeared at the federal courthouse in Fargo at 9 a.m. on Monday, July 22, where he officially pleaded guilty to one count of coercion and enticement of a minor.

According to reporting from InForum, assistant U.S. Attorney Gary Delorme told the court on Monday that Baron is accused of arranging for Doss to meet an underage victim at a gym, where they would have sex and record it for Baron, though Doss ultimately didn't follow through with the plan.

In exchange for pleading guilty to the charge, all other charges against Doss were dropped.

Baron, meanwhile, has not made any plea agreements as of press time.

Baron was first arrested last November after a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children led to several search warrants of Baron's property.

Those search warrants allegedly turned up videos of child pornography in Baron's possession, and the public outcry was swift. He was immediately placed on leave by the Midkota School District, where he had been serving as both superintendent and high school principal since July of 2022.

Months later, additional child pornography charges were filed against Baron as additional evidence was allegedly uncovered, as well as a Class A felony charge for "promoting or directing an obscene sexual performance by a minor."

The federal indictment accuses Baron and Doss of using the internet to "knowingly persuade, induce, entice, and coerce," a girl under the age of 18, "to engage in sexual activity."

Baron also faces several more charges for his alleged criminal activity:

• Attempted sexual exploitation of a child

• Receipt of images depicting the sexual exploitation of children (two counts)

• Possession of images depicting the sexual exploitation of children (two counts)

• Distribution of images depicting the sexual exploitation of children

• Coercion and enticement of a minor

Federal court documents further state that Baron's criminal activity began as far back as 2014 and as recently as January of 2024, even after he was initially charged with possession of child pornography.

As of press time, a jury trial is scheduled to begin in federal court on Tuesday, Aug. 6. However, Baron's legal representatives have since filed a motion to continue and have waived the right to a speedy trial. The prosecution did not object to the motion for continuance.

Baron is considered innocent unless proven guilty.