United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Selby, South Dakota, man has been charged by Criminal Complaint with the offenses of Sexual Exploitation of a Child and Distribution of Material Involving the Sexual Exploitation of Minors.

Christopher R. Jansen, age 34, made his initial appearance upon the Criminal Complaint on Monday, August 11, 2014, and appeared before U.S. Magistrate Mark A. Moreno.

For Sexual Exploitation of a Child, Count 1, the maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 30 years in custody, with a mandatory minimum of 15 years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, up to life of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. For Distribution of Material Involving the Sexual Exploitation of Minors, Count 2, the maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 20 years in custody, with a mandatory minimum of five years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, up to life of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.

Count 1 alleges that between June 2011 and December 2013, Jansen used a minor to produce visual depictions of sexually explicit conduct. Count 2 alleges that between December 1, 2013 and July 27, 2014, Jansen knowingly distributed visual depictions of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

The charges are merely an accusation and Jansen is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, with assistance from the Walworth County Sheriff’s Office and the Mobridge Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tim Maher and Keith Becker, a Trial Attorney with the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section of the Department of Justice, are prosecuting the case.

Jansen was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending further hearings. A trial date has not been set.