Kent Mews, Attempted Enticement of a Minor, South Dakota 2022

Grimy Times Exclusive: Sioux Falls Man Charged with Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet

A man from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, has been charged with a federal crime after attempting to entice a minor using the internet. Kent Mews, 55, was indicted by a federal grand jury on April 5, 2022, for Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet.

The investigation, led by Homeland Security Investigations, alleges that Mews attempted to use a cell phone to persuade, induce, entice, and coerce an undercover agent posing as a 15-year-old male to engage in sexual activity on March 6, 2022.

Mews appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on April 11, 2022, and pled not guilty to the indictment. He was released on bond pending trial, which has been set for July 19, 2022.

The mandatory minimum penalty upon conviction is 10 years in federal prison, with a maximum of life imprisonment and/or a $250,000 fine. Mews may also face up to life on supervised release and be ordered to pay $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

The investigation was conducted by a multi-agency task force, including the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, Sioux Falls Police Department, Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office, South Dakota Highway Patrol, Air Force Office of Special Investigations, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey C. Clapper is prosecuting the case. Mews is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The charge against Mews is a serious one, and the public should be aware of the risks associated with online predators. The investigation and prosecution of such crimes are crucial in protecting our communities.

Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and provide updates as more information becomes available.

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