Iowa man gets almost 30 years in prison after pleading guilty to sexual exploitation of 13-year-old girl

(Joshua Nathanael Baird mugshot, Image credit: FBI)

A man who took sexually explicit photographs of a thirteen-year-old child and distributed the photographs to an undercover officer online, was sentenced on January 21 to more than 29 years in federal prison.  Joshua Baird, 40, from Anthon, Iowa, received the prison term after pleading guilty to sexual exploitation of a child.

At his guilty plea hearing, Baird admitted that, in February of 2021, he used his cell phone to knowingly photograph a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct.  Evidence at his sentencing hearing showed he later distributed these photographs to an undercover officer online because he thought they would “impress” her. 

In February 2021, The Courier posted reported that:

FBI agents said in court records that Joshua Nathanael Baird, formerly of Hampton, sent nude images of a prepubescent girl and video of a girl having sexual contact with an animal Feb. 12 and 13.

The images were sent to an undercover officer using the Kik messaging app, and the video was posted to a private Kik group chat, according to court records.

FBI agents began investigating Baird in January after he allegedly told an undercover officer on the Kik platform that he had access to children.

Baird also engaged in an inappropriate online relationship with a teenager in Australia.  At the sentencing hearing, Baird referred to his sentence as a “court ordered spiritual retreat” and further stated he was “excited” to be in prison.

Baird was sentenced to 354 months’ imprisonment.  He must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.  Baird is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

His case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. 

(Source: U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Iowa)

~ Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today / Connect with Richard on Facebook and Twitter