Justin Preuschl, Child Pornography Production, South Dakota 2025
A former middle school teacher from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, has been handed a lengthy prison sentence for producing child pornography. Justin Preuschl, 29, was sentenced to 24 years and 4 months in federal prison on October 14, 2025, for his crimes.
Preuschl was convicted of four counts of Production of Child Pornography, three counts of Attempted Production of Child Pornography, and one count of Transfer of Obscene Materials to a Minor. The sentencing took place at the United States District Court in Sioux Falls.
The case against Preuschl began in June 2024, when he was indicted by a federal grand jury. He pleaded guilty on July 15, 2025, and was subsequently sentenced by United States District Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange.
According to court documents, Preuschl created multiple social media personas posing as a teenage boy between 2022 and 2024. Using these personas on SnapChat and TikTok, he targeted and sexually groomed over 20 young teenage and preteen girls. Several of these victims were his own students, aged 13-15 years old, while he was a teacher at Whittier Middle School in Sioux Falls.
Preuschl's crimes were investigated by the Sioux Falls Police Department, the Division of Criminal Investigations, and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth A. Ebert-Webb prosecuted the case.
As part of his sentence, Preuschl must register as a sex offender upon his release from federal prison. He was also ordered to pay a special assessment of $1,000 under the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Act of 2018, as well as a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $800. The total restitution ordered is $1,000.
Preuschl was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service following his sentencing. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.
Key Facts
- State: South Dakota
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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