Attorney General Jackley Announces Two Men Indicted On Sexual Assault Charges in Hamlin County

PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announces two men have been arrested in two separate sexual assault investigations involving minors in Hamlin County.

Those arrested were:

*** Christopher Verhoek, 34, Bruce, S.D., on two felony counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, which carries a maximum sentence of two years in the state penitentiary, a $4,000 fine or both for each count; two misdemeanor counts of Attempted Hiring for Sexual Activity, which carries a maximum sentence of one year in the county jail, a maximum fine of $2,000, or both for each count; and five misdemeanor counts of Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor, which carries a maximum sentence of one year in the county jail, a maximum fine of $2,000, or both for each count. The crimes occurred between 2024 and 2026. Verhoek was released on a $2,500 bond.

*** Kevin Benthin, 63, Estelline, S.D., on two felony counts of Sexual Contact with a Child Under the Age of Sixteen, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in the state penitentiary, a $30,000 fine or both for each count. He has also been charged with one misdemeanor count of Sexual Contact Without Consent of a Child 15 Years of Age or Older. That charge carries a maximum sentence of one year in the county jail, a maximum fine of $2,000, or both. The crimes occurred in 2021, 2022 and 2026. Benthin is being held in the Codington County Detention Center in Watertown on a $5,000 cash bond.

The South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) investigated the cases. The Hamlin County State’s Attorney’s Office will prosecute.

Both men were arrested on Wednesday. They are presumed innocent under the U.S. Constitution.

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The word this AM is that a few delegates have had Spencer Gosch reach out to them trying to get them to switch their vote in the AG race to Jon Hansen, who has not officially entered the contest.  I’m hearing it’s being worded as “if he were to get in…. would you consider…”

The whole concept of Hansen running to be South Dakota’s Chief Law Enforcement officer at this extremely late date is quixotic, especially given his record on law enforcement.  As the Doeden camp noted during the Gubernatorial election, Hansen’s record on crime ain’t so great.

The same anti-death penalty Jon Hansen who voted against the prison has people fishing around about him entering the AG Race? The same Jon Hansen who has less prosecutorial experience than ousted Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg did wants to be the chief law enforcement officer for the state?  I’d leave it to his colleagues to judge, but I don’t thing I’ve ever heard his legal acumen lauded either.

Why would we make this guy the state’s lawyer and top cop?  Hard pass.

We have three well-qualified candidates running right now. They deserve the opportunity to make their case to the convention.

Because yesterday was not nutty enough with Senator Tom Pischke facing felony election fraud charges, the Sioux Falls City Election said “hold my beer!” as the results whipsawed back and forth until only two votes separate front runner Christine Erickson and South Dakota Democrat Jamie Smith.

And from what I read, there are some provisional ballots (5?) yet to be counted.

Wednesday is going to prove nerve rattling to the candidates until those results are in. Then the recount will start.

In other Sioux Falls election news, Sara Pankonin emerged victorious over Michael Crane in Ward 2 City Council race, Zach DeBoer fell to Zak Okuwe who out-worked and out-polled him in Ward 5.

And in the at-large contest, James Oppenheimer dropped a bomb on Vince Danh, blowing him out on a 51-33% basis.

Keep reading, as I’ll have more notes on the Erickson/Smith contest as we hear more about those provisional ballots.

From a press release: 

Senator Tom Pischke Steps Back from Party Obligations Amid Pending Charges

Pischke temporarily relinquishes roles as Region 1 Director and Minnehaha County State Committeeman

PIERRE, S.D. – The South Dakota Republican Party announces that Senator Tom Pischke has agreed to step back from his party obligations as Region 1 Director and Minnehaha County State Committeeman in light of pending charges brought against him. This step back is effective immediately and will remain in place until the matter has been resolved.

“Because of the charges that have been brought against Senator Pischke, he has agreed to step back from his party obligations as Region 1 Director and Minnehaha County State Committeeman until this matter has been resolved,” said Jim Eschenbaum, Chairman of the South Dakota Republican Party.

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Pretty sure that the Minnehaha County GOP would be the ones to reinstate him. Or not. Since they’re the ones who selected him and all. But whatever.

From an expanded story on the Dakota Scout, Korry Petterson, the Minnehaha County GOP Chair has harsh words for Senator Tom Pischke if he is in fact determined to be guilty of the fraud against the electorate he is accused of:

Minnehaha County Republican Chairman Korry Petterson said if wrongdoing is proven to have occurred, it should not be tolerated and felony convictions would result in Pischke no longer being allowed to participate in official county party functions.

“I am deeply saddened that something like this has happened. If it turns out to be true, it’s my hope that he’s prosecuted to full extent,” he said. “We can’t have this kind of thing happening in our political system.”

Read the entire story here. 

South Dakota Public Broadcasting has an article on how Tom Pischke’s arrest for felony election fraud has filled the State Republican Party Chairman with disappointment:

“The only way it would be a problem at convention would be if he had been charged and decided he was still gonna go to convention and vote,” Eschenbaum explained. “We would’ve had a tough call to me. But he has voluntarily removed himself from that process, so. I guess it’s not an issue for convention at all.

and..

Eschenbaum said he’s disappointed to hear about the charges.

“Tom has been one of our most conservative voters. Just a stellar conservative vote record.” he said.

Read the entire story here.

There’s more people in this caucus than the freedom caucus of one ran by Phil Jensen.

Oops..

In case you wanted to read the Affidavit in support of the application for Tom Pischke’s arrest warrant, here you go! And it makes interesting reading considering the investigative work done to point the finger at Senator Pischke. In fact, they went so far as to gather DNA evidence.

2 counts of FILE FALSE OR FORGED INSTRUMENT 22-11-28.1.

This might be a tough arrest for Tom to beat.

Looks like Tom Pischke really stepped in at this time. I know he’s done dumb things in the past, but I think he might’ve topped himself this time as he finds himself charged with a felony:

On Monday, the Minnehaha County State’s Attorney’s Office issued an arrest warrant for state senator Thomas Pischke.

And..

According to the Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office, in late March, the sheriff’s office initiated an investigation into potentially fraudulent Republican Precinct Committeeman and Committeewoman statement forms submitted to the Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office.

Read the story here on KELOland.

Does this mean he’s not on the State Republican Party executive board anymore?

There are stories everywhere on this, and the Dakota Scout has their own version:

A South Dakota lawmaker is accused of committing election fraud earlier this spring.

State Sen. Tom Pischke has been arrested on two felony charges following a monthlong investigation into a series of candidate filings suspected by election officials in Minnehaha County to be bogus. According to the Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office, the Dell Rapids legislator voluntarily turned himself into the Minnehaha County Jail Tuesday on two counts of Offering a False or Forged Instrument for Filing. He was booked and subsequently released on a personal recognizance bond.

Read that here.

Whoof! Election Fraud is not a good look for someone running for the State Senate.

As someone just noted to me, first Travis Ismay, now Tom Pischke. Lawmakers should not be law breakers.