A Mason City man was sentenced to 12 years in prison Thursday on federal charges of possession of child pornography.

Cleon Mitchell Jr., 46, Mason City, pleaded guilty April 30 in federal court in Sioux City.

At the plea and sentencing hearings, evidence showed that from August 2022 through April 2024, Mitchell used the applications Kik and Snapchat to receive and possess visual depictions of child pornography that involved a minor under the age of 12. Snapchat reported Mitchell Jr.’s account to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children who in turn reported the information to law enforcement. Law enforcement connected the account to Mitchell Jr. and obtained a search warrant for his home and electronics. Mitchell Jr. admitted he had received and possessed child pornography,

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