United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that a Rapid City, South Dakota, man was charged in federal district court with Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet.
Timothy George Bender, age 54, was charged on July 27, 2017. Bender appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta Wollmann on July 28, 2017, and pleaded not guilty to the charge. The penalty upon conviction is 10 years up to life in prison and/or a $250,000 fine, a minimum of 5 years up to lifetime supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The charge relates to Bender attempting to entice a minor girl to meet with him, who he believed to be 15 years old. The charge is merely an accusation and Bender is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Collins is prosecuting the case.
Bender was released pending trial, which is scheduled for Nov. 28, 2017.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
