MARCH 18, 2024:
A 31 year old man from Sioux Falls was sentenced to 14 years in the South Dakota State Penitentiary today (March 18, 2024) in Sixth Circuit Court in Fort Pierre.
The charge against Shadu Karish Kawaja stems from the rape of a 9 year old girl in rural Stanley County last year. He was given credit for the 284 days he’s been in the Hughes County Jail.
Kawaja plead guilty to one count of Sexual Contact with a Child under Sixteen late last year (Dec. 19, 2023), while two other charges were dismissed as part of a plea agreement. Among the other stipulations are that Kawaja must also pay a $1000 fine, pay associated fees and court costs and must notify the state’s Sex Offender Registry upon his release.
Kawaja’s attorney asked for the mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison because of factors such as this being his first felony conviction and he immediately took responsibility for his actions.
Stanley County State’s Attorney Tom Maher asked for the full 15 years citing a brief history of misdemeanor domestic assault charges and part of his psycho-sexual assessment that indicated he is a high risk to offend again.
The case was investigated by agents with the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, in cooperation with witnesses, officers of the Stanley County Sheriff’s Office and staff at Avera St. Mary’s and Child Assessment Center.
DECEMBER 19, 2023:
A man from Sioux Falls has plead guilty (Dec. 19, 2023) to one charge related to the alleged rape of a 9 year old girl in rural Stanley County last year. Two other charges were dismissed as part of a plea agreement.
The Sexual Contact with a Child under Sixteen charge against Shadu Karish Kawaja carries a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a maximum of 15 years in the state penitentiary and a fine of up to $30,000. The contact with the victim, who is now 10 years old, happened between Nov. 25-29, 2022.
The judge ordered a psychosexual evaluation and a pre-sentence investigation. Sentencing was set for Feb. 16, 2024, at 10am CT.
Kawaja is in the custody of the Stanley County Sheriff’s Office and is being held in the Hughes County Jail in Pierre.
The case was investigated by agents with the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, in cooperation with witnesses, officers of the Stanley County Sheriff’s Office and staff at Avera St. Mary’s and Child Assessment Center.
JULY 25, 2023:
A 30 year old man from Sioux Falls entered not guilty pleas today (July 25, 2023) to three charges related to the alleged rape of a 9 year old girl in rural Stanley County last year.
Shadu Karish Kawaja is charged in Stanley County Court with First Degree Rape for a sex act with a child under 13; Sexual Contact with a Child under Sixteen; and Exposure to Venereal Disease. The charges arise from investigation of sexual abuse by Kawaja against the victim (G.F.) in late November 2022 (Nov. 25-29, 2022).
Kawaja is in the custody of the Stanley County Sheriff’s Office and is being held in the Hughes County Jail in Pierre.
The case was investigated by agents with the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, in cooperation with witnesses, officers of the Stanley County Sheriff’s Office and staff at Avera St. Mary’s and Child Assessment Center.
JUNE 17, 2023:
Shadu Karish Kawaja, a 30 year old Sioux Falls male, was indicted by the Stanley County grand jury this week (June 15, 2023) on charges of Rape, First Degree for a Sex Act with a Child under 13; Sexual Contact with a Child Under sixteen; and Exposure to Venereal Disease. The charges arise from investigation of sexual abuse by Kawaja against his 9 year old niece at a house in rural Stanley County in late November, 2022.
The case was investigated by agents with the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, in cooperation with witnesses, officers of the Stanley County Sheriff’s Office and staff at Avera St. Mary’s and Child Assessment Center. Kawaja is detained in custody of the Stanley County Sheriff and is being held at the Hughes County Jail, on $50,000 bond. The case is presently set for a hearing on June 20, 2023.
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