United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that an Edgemont, South Dakota, man was charged in federal district court with Attempted Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet, and Transfer of Obscene Material to a Minor.
Francis James Kistler, age 60, was charged on Aug. 13, 2019. Kistler appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta Wollmann on Aug. 19, 2019, and pleaded not guilty to the charges. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a mandatory minimum of 15 up to 30 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, lifetime supervised release, and a $100 assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The charges relate to Kistler, an Edgemont police officer, sexually exploiting two underage females between January 2019 and July 2019. The charges are merely an accusation and Kistler is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah B. Collins is prosecuting the case.
Kistler was detained pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
