Mobridge Man Sentenced 9+ Years for Child Pornography Possession

ABERDEEN – In a harsh blow to a South Dakota man, U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann has handed down a 9-year and 1-month prison sentence for possession of child pornography.

Charles Evyn Russell, 36, of Mobridge, was convicted of a serious offense that has left the community shaken. The sentencing took place on May 20, 2024, marking a significant milestone in the case.

Russell was found guilty of possessing over 600 images of child pornography on various computer and electronic devices at his residence in Mobridge between July 31, 2021, and April 1, 2022. He used the application KIK to obtain child pornography from other users.

The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 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.

Russell will serve his sentence followed by 10 years of supervised release and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100. Upon his release from federal prison, he will be required to register as a sex offender, a harsh reality that will undoubtedly have a lasting impact on his life.

This case was investigated by the FBI, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, the Mobridge Police Department, and the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges prosecuted the case. Russell was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

The sentencing of Russell serves as a stark reminder of the severe consequences of possessing child pornography. As the nation continues to grapple with the issue of child sexual exploitation, cases like these highlight the importance of continued efforts to protect vulnerable children and bring perpetrators to justice.

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