15-year-old Lured by Man and School Superintendent to Record Explicit Videos in North Dakota; Man Pleaded Guilty for His Acts
Aaron Doss, a 27-year-old resident of Fargo, experienced a moment of hesitation; however, it did not detract from his decision. He had already committed a felony for which the mandatory minimum sentence is ten years in federal prison: he used the internet to coerce and entice a 15-year-old girl to engage in illegal sex acts.
Last month, Doss and Ryan Baron, a former North Dakota school superintendent, were indicted. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gary Delorme informed the court on Monday, July 22, that Baron is purportedly responsible for arranging for Doss to meet the victim at a nearby gym, where they would engage in sexual intercourse and record the experience for Baron.
The victim and Doss both visited the gym; however, Doss ultimately resolved not to execute the plan.
The sex act is not required by federal law; rather, the use of the internet to allure the girl was sufficient to violate coercion and enticement law, a charge that carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.
On Monday morning, Doss entered a plea of guilty to one count of the indictment. The government consented to dismiss all other offenses against him as part of a plea agreement.
Doss is scheduled to be sentenced in November. Chief Judge Peter Welte is not required to adhere to the plea agreement between Doss and the government when he determines the sentence in the case, as it is nonbinding on the court.
Baron, 41, is scheduled to appear in court on August 6, despite the fact that his attorney has requested a postponement. He was initially accused with possessing child sexual abuse materials in state court last November while serving as the principal and superintendent of the Midkota School District.
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The Midkota School District is responsible for the education of the minor communities of Binford, Glenfield, McHenry, Grace City, and Sutton, which are located in Griggs and Foster counties in north-central North Dakota, between Jamestown and Devils Lake. According to district officials, Baron’s employment concluded in December 2023, and his license was suspended by the state board in March.
At a February hearing in the state case against Baron, the state’s counsel for Griggs County stated that a Midkota student was one of the victims as reported by a local news outlet.
Additionally, Baron is accused of six additional counts in the federal lawsuit, including the attempted sexual exploitation of a child and the receipt, possession, and distribution of images that depict the sexual exploitation of children.
