Rapid City Man Indicted on Federal Charges Related to Child Pornography
Lewis Patterson III, a 39-year-old Rapid City man, has been indicted on federal charges for distributing and possessing child pornography. The charges were filed on October 30, 2024, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta Wollmann. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Patterson is accused of distributing hundreds of thousands of images and videos of child sexual abuse through various online platforms and encrypted messaging services starting from at least March 2024.
If convicted, Patterson could face a mandatory minimum sentence of five years up to 20 years in federal prison for the distribution charge, along with a potential fine of up to $250,000 and a lifetime of supervised release. He also faces a maximum of 10 years in prison for the possession charge. U.S. Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell emphasized the priority of federal prosecution for those exploiting children through the internet.
The investigation into Patterson is being led by the South Dakota Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, a collaboration between the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, Rapid City Police Department, and Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, in partnership with Homeland Security Investigations. Patterson remains in custody pending a detention hearing scheduled for November 1, 2024. The frequency of child exploitation on the internet is a cause for concern, and authorities are pushing for strict enforcement to protect children.
Source
Photo credit www.mykxlg.com
