Yankton Man Charged with Possession of Child Pornography

Acting United States Attorney Dennis Holmes announced that a Yankton, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Possession of Child Pornography.

Matthew Carter, age 31, was indicted on May 4, 2021.  He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on May 13, 2021, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.

The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 20 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, life of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.  Restitution may also be ordered.

The Indictment alleges that between December 29, 2020, and January 14, 2021, Carter knowingly possessed and attempted to possess materials which contained images of child pornography. 

The charge is merely an accusation and Carter is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. 

The investigation is being conducted by the Homeland Security Investigations, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Yankton Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey C. Clapper is prosecuting the case.   

Carter was returned to state custody pending trial.  A trial date has not been set.