South Dakota
Former South Dakota state employee pleads not guilty to 50 child pornography charges
A former South Dakota state employee is scheduled to have a jury trial after he was charged with dozens of alleged child pornography crimes.
Mohammad Ghosheh, 25, of Brookings pleaded not guilty April 28 to 50 counts of possession of child pornography during an arraignment hearing in Brookings County Circuit Court, according to a release from the South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley. Ghosheh also entered a not guilty plea on one count of sexual exploitation of a minor, court records show.
Ghosheh worked as an economic assistance benefits specialist for the state Department of Social Services. He no longer works for the agency, according to Open SD.
Possession of child pornography is a class 4 felony and carries a mandatory minimum sentence of one year in prison for first offenses. Ghosheh faces a minimum of one year in prison on each count, according to the April 28 press release.
Ghosheh was initially charged with 11 counts of possession of child pornography, according to a March 26 press release, but Jackley in the initial statement stated “further charges may be filed.”
Ghosheh was arrested March 25. He was later released on a $10,000 cash bond.
A jury trial is scheduled for 9 a.m. Aug. 13.
DCI investigated Ghosheh following cyber tip tied to missing North Carolina teen
The South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation received a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children involving a missing 15-year-old girl, according to the initial press release.
The cyber tip identified Ghosheh as someone who had allegedly been chatting to a girl from North Carolina, according to the complaint. In their conversations, Ghosheh allegedly mentioned flying to North Carolina to see the girl days before her disappearance if he “liked what he saw,” according to the complaint.
The complaint then alleges he asked the girl for nude images of herself. The girl was later found in North Carolina with a different man.
According to previous Argus Leader reporting, police found what is referred to in the criminal complaint as a “sex kidnapping kit” during a search warrant on Ghosheh’s car. Items allegedly in the kit included “kids movies, adult sex games, alcohol, THC products, sex toys, binding material, a blow-up mattress and bedding.”
Similar items were found in Ghosheh’s residence, according to the complaint.
“The charges reflect the seriousness of having a 15-year-old victim involved in this case,” Jackley said in the Monday evening press release.
The 2026 South Dakota legislative session is still a week away but we’re already seeing dozens of bills being introduced.
The Legislative Research Council’s website shows more than 60 bills already on tap as of Tuesday.
But many more are on the way. In recent years, the Legislature has seen on average around 500 bills per session. Generally, a little under half end up being signed into law.
Some of the early bills include an act allowing for the removal of a county commissioner and another creating a tax exemption for data centers.
Attorney General Marty Jackley is also introducing a host of bills including one allowing law enforcement to seize cryptocurrency that’s part of a criminal investigation.
“Cryptocurrency has become a haven for scammers, drug traffickers, and human traffickers, costing South Dakotans millions in losses and fueling online crime,” said Jackley. “This legislation adds ‘digital currency’ to South Dakota’s seizure laws, giving law enforcement the tools to confiscate illicit crypto assets and disrupt criminal networks hiding behind digital secrecy.”
A full list of bills and resolutions is available on the LRC’s website.
The 2026 session begins Jan. 13.
The South Dakota Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Jan. 5, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Powerball numbers from Jan. 5 drawing
04-18-24-51-56, Powerball: 14, Power Play: 2
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Jan. 5 drawing
02-07-08-21-45, Lucky Ball: 15
Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Lotto America numbers from Jan. 5 drawing
12-19-21-30-47, Star Ball: 05, ASB: 03
Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your prize
- Prizes of $100 or less: Can be claimed at any South Dakota Lottery retailer.
- Prizes of $101 or more: Must be claimed from the Lottery. By mail, send a claim form and a signed winning ticket to the Lottery at 711 E. Wells Avenue, Pierre, SD 57501.
- Any jackpot-winning ticket for Dakota Cash or Lotto America, top prize-winning ticket for Lucky for Life, or for the second prizes for Powerball and Mega Millions must be presented in person at a Lottery office. A jackpot-winning Powerball or Mega Millions ticket must be presented in person at the Lottery office in Pierre.
When are the South Dakota Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Lucky for Life: 9:38 p.m. CT daily.
- Lotto America: 9:15 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Dakota Cash: 9 p.m. CT on Wednesday and Saturday.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a South Dakota editor. You can send feedback using this form.
The South Dakota Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Jan. 4, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Jan. 4 drawing
03-08-13-38-47, Lucky Ball: 02
Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your prize
- Prizes of $100 or less: Can be claimed at any South Dakota Lottery retailer.
- Prizes of $101 or more: Must be claimed from the Lottery. By mail, send a claim form and a signed winning ticket to the Lottery at 711 E. Wells Avenue, Pierre, SD 57501.
- Any jackpot-winning ticket for Dakota Cash or Lotto America, top prize-winning ticket for Lucky for Life, or for the second prizes for Powerball and Mega Millions must be presented in person at a Lottery office. A jackpot-winning Powerball or Mega Millions ticket must be presented in person at the Lottery office in Pierre.
When are the South Dakota Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Lucky for Life: 9:38 p.m. CT daily.
- Lotto America: 9:15 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Dakota Cash: 9 p.m. CT on Wednesday and Saturday.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a South Dakota editor. You can send feedback using this form.
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