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Child Pornography and Cyberstalking Charges in Brookings
A Brookings man has been charged with production of child pornography and cyberstalking in a shocking case that has left the community in shock. Jaykob Elijah Varner, 24, was indicted in October of 2024 for his alleged role in creating and distributing child pornography.
According to the indictment, Varner knowingly induced, enticed, and coerced a minor female to create images and videos of herself engaged in sexually explicit conduct between August 1, 2023, and April 13, 2024. He then sent these images and videos to himself.
The indictment further alleges that Varner used online applications to harass, intimidate, and keep the minor female under surveillance in order to harass and intimidate her into making such images and videos, which caused her substantial emotional distress.
Varner appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on October 8, 2024, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment. If convicted, he faces a possible maximum penalty of up to 30 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, life of supervised release, and up to $200 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The charges are merely accusations and Varner is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The investigation is being conducted by Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth A. Ebert-Webb is prosecuting the case.
Varner was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has not been set. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.
Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Key Facts
- State: South Dakota
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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