Aberdeen, SD – In a harsh reminder of the dark world of child exploitation, a Watertown man has been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for producing child pornography. Ted Jeffrey Hurkes, 46, of Watertown, was handed down the sentence by U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann on June 3, 2024, in a federal court in Aberdeen.
Hurkes was found guilty of Production of Child Pornography after he used his cell phone to take pictures and make video recordings of a partially unclothed minor female while she was asleep on October 2, 2022. The child was unaware of the images being created by Hurkes.
The case against Hurkes 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. This initiative marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims.
The investigation into Hurkes’ activities was a collaborative effort between Homeland Security Investigations, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Watertown Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey C. Clapper prosecuted the case, which resulted in Hurkes’ guilty plea on December 4, 2023.
As part of his sentence, Hurkes must also register as a sex offender upon his release from federal prison. He was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service following the sentencing.
The production and distribution of child pornography is a heinous crime that causes irreparable harm to its victims. The Grimy Times commends the efforts of law enforcement and prosecutors in bringing Hurkes to justice and protecting the most vulnerable members of our society.
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Key Facts
- State: South Dakota
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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