South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley says two men have been arrested in two separate sexual assault investigations involving minors in Hamlin County.
Those arrested were:
34 year old Christopher Verhoek from Bruce on two felony counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, which carries a maximum sentence of two years in the state penitentiary, a $4,000 fine or both for each count; two misdemeanor counts of Attempted Hiring for Sexual Activity, which carries a maximum sentence of one year in the county jail, a maximum fine of $2,000, or both for each count; and five misdemeanor counts of Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor, which carries a maximum sentence of one year in the county jail, a maximum fine of $2,000, or both for each count. The crimes occurred between 2024 and 2026. Verhoek was released on a $2,500 bond.
Also, 63 year old Kevin Benthin from Estelline on two felony counts of Sexual Contact with a Child Under the Age of Sixteen, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in the state penitentiary, a $30,000 fine or both for each count. He has also been charged with one misdemeanor count of Sexual Contact Without Consent of a Child 15 Years of Age or Older. That charge carries a maximum sentence of one year in the county jail, a maximum fine of $2,000, or both. The crimes occurred in 2021, 2022 and 2026. Benthin is being held in the Codington County Detention Center in Watertown on a $5,000 cash bond.
The South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation investigated the cases. The Hamlin County State’s Attorney’s Office will prosecute. Both men were arrested on Wednesday.