August 20, 2014

South Dakota Man Sentenced for Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Child

United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Lake Andes, South Dakota, man convicted of Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Child was sentenced on August 11, 2014, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange.

Sylvan Godfrey, age 51, was sentenced to 360 months of custody, five years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Godfrey was indicted by a federal grand jury on July 17, 2013. He was found guilty of the above charge as a result of a federal jury trial in Pierre, South Dakota, on May 28, 2014.

At some point between May 2006 and November 2007, Godfrey sexually abused a girl who was under 12 years of age.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy M. Maher prosecuted the case.

Godfrey was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.