Shadu Karish Kawaja, a 31-year-old man from Sioux Falls, was sentenced to 14 years in the South Dakota State Penitentiary for the rape of a 9-year-old girl in rural Stanley County last year.
Kawaja pleaded guilty to one count of Sexual Contact with a Child under Sixteen as part of a plea agreement. He was given credit for 284 days in jail and must pay a $1,000 fine, fees, and court costs. Kawaja will also be required to register as a sex offender upon his release.
His attorney requested the minimum sentence of 10 years, citing Kawaja’s lack of prior felony convictions and immediate acceptance of responsibility.
Stanley County State’s Attorney Tom Maher argued for the full 15-year sentence, noting Kawaja’s history of misdemeanor domestic assault charges and a psycho-sexual assessment indicating a high risk of reoffending.
The case was investigated by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, the Stanley County Sheriff’s Office, and medical staff.