Brende Pleads Guilty to Possession of Child Pornography

(Pierre) –Justin Douglas Brende, 23, of Mitchell, pleaded guilty today to four counts of possession of child pornography. 

Brende could face 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine per count. The court has ordered Brende undergo a psychosexual evaluation before being sentenced. No sentencing date has been set. He is currently out on a $10,000 cash bail.

Brende was arrested in July after an investigation conducted by the Mitchell Police Department and the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation uncovered numerous images of child pornography on Brende’s computer. A tip from an informant led to the investigation.

Each of the counts against Brende is a class four felony. A law established during the 2002 legislative session increased sentencing and fines for possession of child pornography from 2 years in prison and a $2,000 fine per count to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine per count. That law went into effect July 1.

The South Dakota Attorney General’s Office and Davison County State’s Attorney Pat Smith are prosecuting the case.

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