A Sioux Falls police officer has been arrested on charges related to child pornography, according to federal court documents.

Luke John Schauer, 28, was charged with attempted production of child pornography and transfer of obscene materials to minors, according to the documents. He was arrested Tuesday and entered a plea of not guilty during his court hearing Wednesday afternoon at the federal courthouse in Sioux Falls.

Schauer has been with the Sioux Falls Police Department since at least 2016, according to a Sioux Falls police annual report from that year.

"We are aware of this arrest," police spokesperson Sam Clemens wrote in an email to the Argus Leader on Wednesday morning. Because the case is not a Sioux Falls Police Department investigation, Clemens could not give anymore information, including confirming the officer's name.

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Mayor Paul TenHaken said in a statement to the Argus Leader that Schauer is no longer employed by the city.

“Upon learning of the allegations surrounding Officer Schauer’s arrest, he did not work another shift for the Sioux Falls Police Department and is no longer a member of our Police department," TenHaken said.

Schauer's last exact date employed by the city was not released by the mayor's office. No further details would be provided, according to TenHaken's statement.

Schauer signed an order setting the conditions of his release on Wednesday and will leave the Minnehaha County Jail after he is processed.

Affidavit: Schauer shared graphic photos with an undercover FBI agent

Between Jan. 18 and Feb 4., Schauer sent multiple messages via Kik Messenger to an undercover FBI agent, who was posing as a 12-year-old girl, according to federal court documents.

The messages contained graphic images of Schauer's penis and graphic descriptions of "how he would have sex," with the undercover agent, according to the documents. At one point, the agent asked Schauer if she could "see your gun," and he responded with "if I can see you naked."

In the photographs Schauer took, distinct patterned sheets, a comforter and a blanket can be seen in a bedroom, according to the documents.

A search warrant was executed Tuesday at Schauer's home in Sioux Falls, where law enforcement officers were able to match the portions of the bedroom to the Kik messenger photographs, according to court documents.

Schauer admitted during questioning Tuesday with two FBI special agents the Kik messenger handle was his and he was aware he was communicating with a person he believed to be a 12-year-old girl, according to court documents.

Schauer faces up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if he is found guilty of the charges, according to the court documents.

Schauer has a decorated department history

In March 2018, Schauer was presented with a medal of valor along with two other officers after a struggle with an armed man.

Schauer along with two other officers were responding to a fight disturbance on Jan. 19, 2018, when they questioned a 30-year-old man about the fight, who gave a fake name, which led to his arrest, according to previous reporting.

During the arrest, the man pulled a gun out of his waistband and pointed it at an officer's leg, with his hand on the trigger, according to police. The officers were able to get the gun out of the man's hand during the struggle.

Schauer was also recognized with a Lifesaving Award in 2019 by SFPD, according to the annual report.

Schauer's booking photo was not immediately available because the case is a U.S. Marshal's case.

This is a developing story, check back for updates.

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This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Sioux Falls police officer arrested, faces child pornography charges