Man Pleads Guilty To Having Sex With A Child In Norway, US Attorney Says

TRENTON, NJ — An Ocean County man admitted to traveling to a foreign place to engage in sexual conduct with a minor, the U.S. Attorney's Office said Thursday.

Jacob Bauer, 29, of Manchester, pleaded guilty Thursday before U.S. District Judge Robert Kirsch to one count of engaging in illicit sexual conduct in a foreign place, officials said.

According to court documents, in December 2023 Bauer flew from the United States to Norway to meet up with a 14-year-old girl and have sex with her.

Bauer, who was 27 at the time, returned home and had conversations on Discord with other people telling them about his sexual activities with the victim. He stayed in contact with the victim and in February 2025 told the girl he wanted to fly to Norway to have sex with her again, court documents said.

During his conversations with others and the victim, Bauer acknowledged the girl's age and status as a minor, the documents said.

After members of an online community that Bauer was active in learned of his sexual activities with a minor, Bauer was "doxxed" — his public information published online — by members of that community, the complaint said.

Authorities began investigating Bauer in April 2024 after receiving a tip about his activities and traced them through multiple Discord accounts before filing the complaint and arresting him in April 2025.

Bauer faces a up to 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 at sentencing, which is scheduled for Jan. 21.