Jerry Lane Golliher, Commercial Sex Trafficking, South Dakota 2013

Jerry Lane Golliher, a 33-year-old man from Belle Fourche, South Dakota, has been convicted of commercial sex trafficking after attempting to have sex with a 13-year-old girl for $150 during the 2013 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.

According to court records, Golliher negotiated online with an undercover agent posing as a “pimp” to engage in sexual acts with the minor in exchange for money. He showed up at the meeting time and place with the appropriate amount of money, and confirmed he was there to have sex with the girl.

Golliher was convicted in October of 2014, in federal district court in Rapid City, and was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment in February of 2015. The conviction was the result of a joint investigation conducted by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Rapid City Police Department, and the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office.

During his trial, Golliher’s defense team argued that his trial counsel was ineffective, and that the district court erred by refusing to admit evidence offered by Golliher in support of his defense. However, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals has affirmed the district court in all respects, upholding Golliher’s conviction and sentence.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah B. Collins and Ben Patterson prosecuted the case at trial, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Koliner handled the appeal for the government. U.S. Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced the court’s decision, stating that the conviction and sentence were a result of the hard work and dedication of the investigators and prosecutors involved in the case.

The conviction of Jerry Lane Golliher serves as a reminder of the serious consequences of commercial sex trafficking. It is a crime that can have devastating effects on its victims, and it is essential that those who engage in this activity are held accountable. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work tirelessly to protect the citizens of South Dakota from this type of crime.

The case against Golliher is a testament to the importance of collaboration between law enforcement agencies and the prosecution. The joint investigation and prosecution of this case have sent a clear message that commercial sex trafficking will not be tolerated in our community.

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