United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Kenel, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Aggravated Sexual Abuse, Kidnapping, Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, Assault of a Spouse by Strangulation, and Domestic Assault by a Habitual Offender.

Denny Johnson, Sr., age 29, was indicted on June 17, 2014. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge William D. Gerdes on June 30, 2014, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.

The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to life in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, a mandatory minimum term of five years of supervised release, and up to $900 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.

The Indictment alleges that between the timeframe of December 1, 2013, to January 10, 2014, Johnson caused an adult female to engage in sexual acts and placed her in fear that she would be subjected to death, serious bodily injury, and kidnapping; kidnapped and held the female victim against her will, for the purpose of assaulting her with dangerous weapons, that is shod feet and a knife with the intent to do bodily harm; assaulted the victim by strangling and suffocating her; and committed a domestic assault against the same female victim. At the time of the domestic assault, Johnson had at least two separate prior convictions for assaults that were against a spouse or intimate partner.

The charges are merely accusations and Johnson is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy R. Morley is prosecuting the case.

Johnson was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial, which has been set for September 2, 2014.