Kyle Man Convicted of Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor and Witness Tampering

RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a jury has convicted Lloyd Emerson Elk, age 47, of Kyle, South Dakota, of four counts of Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor, one count of Abusive Sexual Contact, and one count of Witness Tampering following a two-day jury trial in federal district court in Rapid City. The verdict was returned on July 2, 2024.

Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 30 years up to life in custody; Abusive Sexual Contact carries any term of years up to life in custody; and Witness Tampering carries maximum penalty of 20 years in custody. Elk was indicted by a federal grand jury in March of 2024 for the above-listed crimes.

Evidence at trial established that Elk sexually abused a young girl multiple times when she was between the ages of five and seven years old. Elk employed years of domestic violence to control the victim and her family, including physical and emotional abuse. Elk told the victim if she ever told anyone about the sexual abuse, that he would kill her, her mother, and her brother. When the victim finally disclosed the abuse in late 2023, the investigation revealed Elk had sexually abused another young girl in 1998-while employed as a police officer in Idaho-and made similar threats to her to keep her quiet.

This case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anna Lindrooth and Megan Poppen prosecuted the case.

A presentence investigation was ordered, and a sentencing date has been set for October 2, 2024. The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.