A Rapid City man pleaded not guilty after being charged with four counts of sexual contact with a child, two counts of solicitation of a minor, one count of child abuse, one count of bestiality and one count of cruelty to animals.
Brian Johnson, 41, entered the plea in Pennington County Court Tuesday at his arraignment hearing in front of Circuit Court Judge Robert Gusinsky.
Johnson faces up to 84 years in prison and a $168,000 fine if found guilty.
The state alleged Johnson solicited a minor to engage in sexual acts between Dec. 22, 2022 and Jan. 16, 2023, and that he abused a 13-year-old in that timeframe.
The alleged bestiality occurred March 15 and was caught on camera, Deputy Pennington County State’s Attorney Jason Thomas said at Johnson’s initial appearance in court.
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In the state of South Dakota, sexual contact with a child under 16 is a class 3 felony with a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and up to $30,000 fine.
Solicitation of a minor and child abuse are both class 4 felonies with a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and up to a $20,000 fine.
Bestiality and animal cruelty are both class 6 felonies with a maximum penalty of two years in prison and up to a $4,000 fine.
Gusinsky set Johnson’s next status hearing for Sept. 3, 2024 at 3 p.m.
You can contact Madison at mwillis@rapidcityjournal.com