Mark Milk, who is alleged to be involved in the disappearance and death of 14-year-old Sioux Falls girl McKenna Wendel, was ordered detained pending a detention hearing set for 2:30 p.m. on July 30, following his initial appearance in federal court. Milk, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, pleaded not guilty to the charges against him. Trial in Milk’s case is scheduled for September 28 in the United States District Court in Sioux City.
Milk and his co-defendant, Jon Rogness of Brookings, South Dakota, were indicted on June 17. The indictment charges Milk with five counts: possessing with intent to distribute and distributing cocaine resulting in Wendel’s death; possessing with intent to distribute and distributing THC; transporting a minor across state lines with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity; conspiring to conceal objects intended to impair their integrity and availability for an official proceeding; and concealing objects intended to impair their availability for an official proceeding.
If convicted, Milk faces a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $1 million fine, and up to five years of supervised release following any imprisonment. Rogness’s initial appearance and arraignment are scheduled for August 6. The indictment charges Rogness with conspiracy to conceal objects intended to impair their integrity and availability for an official proceeding and accessory after the alleged cocaine possession and distribution resulted in Wendel’s death. If convicted, Rogness faces up to 35 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and up to five years of supervised release.
As stated by authorities, “As with any criminal case, an indictment is merely an accusation, and defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.” The U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa prosecutes federal crimes—including those related to drug trafficking—manages civil litigation for the U.S. government across its jurisdiction covering more than 25,120 square miles over 52 counties serving about 1.3 million Iowans; it has a staff including more than twenty assistant U.S. attorneys as well as three high-intensity drug trafficking area attorneys among its leadership, according to the official website.