A southern Minnesota man has been sentenced to 17 years in prison for producing pornography using children ages 4 and younger who were at his home for day-care services provided by his wife.

The sentence Friday in federal court for David L. Rasmussen, 42, also includes 10 years of supervision upon his release from prison.

Rasmussen, who pleaded guilty in March 2014, took pictures of three children, ages 4, 3, and 1½, in their homes and in his own home in the 300 block of 8th Street N., about 50 miles southwest of Mankato.

In arguing for a prison term of more than 24 years, prosecutors said in a court filing that Rasmussen "victimized the children of neighbors who trusted him in order to produce and distribute child pornography for the sexual gratification of himself and his friends."

Prosecutors added that Rasmussen also stored and shared "an astonishing amount of child pornography depicting the rape and torture of children."

In seeking a prison sentence of no more than 15 years, the defense said that the pornography he produced totaled four photos of three children, and "none of these images contains sexual contact or sexual abuse."

The defense also noted Rasmussen's spotless criminal history until this case, and that his wife is ailing.

Rasmussen, a lifelong resident of southern Minnesota, has been in custody since his arrest on the federal charges on May 28, 2013.

Rasmussen's wife, Mary, has been in an assisted-living facility since his apprehension. Her request for a day-care license from the state was denied in December 2012, about six weeks after David Rasmussen's computers were seized by the Mountain Lake Police Department.

Law enforcement searched the computers and found thousands of images and videos of prepubescent children subjected to sexual penetration. They also found depictions of bondage and violent materials.

Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482