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Rapid City Man Sentenced for Attempted Enticement of a Minor
A Rapid City man has been sentenced to over 10 years in federal prison for attempting to entice a minor using the internet.
Matthew Zook, 46, was sentenced to 10 years and 1 month in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $95 in restitution and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Zook was convicted of Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet, a charge brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.
In April 2024, Zook used Snapchat to communicate with a 14-year-old minor female, describing how he would use condoms for birth control and discussing his desire to try different sex positions with the young girl.
Zook then drove to the minor’s house and parked in her driveway, but was arrested by law enforcement, who had been alerted by the minor’s parent.
Zook was previously convicted in 2012 for Fourth Degree Rape of a minor, for which he received a suspended prison sentence.
This case was investigated by the Rapid City Police Department, Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, and the South Dakota Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Knox prosecuted the case.
Zook was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
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.
Key Facts
- State: South Dakota
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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