OCTOBER 2024:
United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a 48 year old man from Kyle, South Dakota, convicted of four counts of Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor, one count of Abusive Sexual Contact, and one count of Witness Tampering has received his punishment from a federal judge. The sentencing took place on October 17, 2024.
Lloyd Emerson Elkwas sentenced to a total of 50 years in federal prison on each count of Aggravated Sexual Abuse, followed by 10 years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a $600 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. He was also sentenced to five years in prison for Abusive Sexual Contact and 25 years in prison on the Witness Tampering conviction. The sentences were ordered to run concurrently.
Elk was indicted by a federal grand jury in March of 2024. He was found guilty following a two-day jury trial in July of 2024. At the sentencing hearing, Judge Theeler reflected Elk’s long pattern of violence was very concerning to her. She noted, “Crimes against children are some of the most heinous crimes . . . Adults in positions of power can abuse that position, take away the innocence of a child and hurt them.”
Elk, a former tribal law enforcement officer, sexually abused his stepdaughter multiple times when she was between the ages of five and seven years old. Elk employed years of domestic violence to control the victim and her family, including physical and emotional abuse. Elk told the victim if she ever told anyone about the sexual abuse, that he would kill her, her mother, and her brother. When the victim finally disclosed the abuse in late 2023, the investigation revealed Elk had sexually abused another seven-year-old girl in 1998—while employed as a police officer in Idaho—and made similar threats to her to keep her quiet.
“Every instance of child sexual abuse is simultaneously shocking and heartbreaking,” said U.S. Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell. “But it is unthinkable that such victimization would happen at the hands of a law enforcement officer. It took great courage for the victims in this case to come forward with the truth, and we are grateful to our partners at the FBI who expertly investigated the matter so that our prosecutors could bring this violent defendant to justice, once and for all. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will never yield in our steadfast commitment to protecting women and children from violence.”
This case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anna Lindrooth and Megan Poppen prosecuted the case. Elk was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
AUGUST 2024:
A federal jury has convicted Lloyd Emerson Elk, age 47, of Kyle, South Dakota, of four counts of Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor, one count of Abusive Sexual Contact, and one count of Witness Tampering following a two-day jury trial in federal district court in Rapid City.
Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 30 years up to life in custody; Abusive Sexual Contact carries any term of years up to life in custody; and Witness Tampering carries maximum penalty of 20 years in custody. Elk was indicted by a federal grand jury in March of 2024 for the above-listed crimes.
Evidence at trial established that Elk sexually abused a young girl multiple times when she was between the ages of five and seven years old. Elk employed years of domestic violence to control the victim and her family, including physical and emotional abuse. Elk told the victim if she ever told anyone about the sexual abuse, that he would kill her, her mother, and her brother. When the victim finally disclosed the abuse in late 2023, the investigation revealed Elk had sexually abused another young girl in 1998—while employed as a police officer in Idaho—and made similar threats to her to keep her quiet.
This case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anna Lindrooth and Megan Poppen prosecuted the case.
A presentence investigation was ordered, and a sentencing date has been set for October 2, 2024. The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
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