New evidence surfaces against former lawmaker Ted Klaudt

The Associated Press | Posted: Monday, August 6, 2007 11:00 pm | (0) Comments

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buy this photo Ted Klaudt leaves the Meade County Courthouse on July 20 after being arraigned on a variety of rape charges. (Journal file photo)

SIOUX FALLS - State investigators who have analyzed a computer used by a former state lawmaker accused of rape and other sex crimes say Ted Klaudt, 49, attempted the online solicitation of young girls.
The Walker rancher allegedly used the name "studman" in one instance to ask a 14-year-old girl to send webcam photos of herself.
And he allegedly used the name "thephotoman" while pretending to be a 21-year-old modeling agent, supposedly asking a 15-year-old girl to send photos for a pornographic movie.
Authorities say those allegations are given credence by an interview with an 18-year-old female who said Klaudt offered to take photos of her and a 16-year-old sister with sex toys in order to build modeling portfolios.
The charges against Klaudt, both in Corson County, where he lives, and Hughes County while he was in the Legislature, involve girls in foster care. At least one of the allegations involved a girl when she was a page during a lawmaking session.
Klaudt, a Republican, has pleaded not guilty to all of the charges. Each rape count carries a maximum punishment of 25 years in prison.
The teenage girls told authorities that Klaudt touched their breasts and penetrated their vaginas during exams for a scheme in which he said they could make money by selling their reproductive eggs.
Oct. 30 has been set as the start of Klaudt's trial in Hughes County. No trial date has yet been established on the Corson County charges.

Posted in State-and-regional on Monday, August 6, 2007 11:00 pm

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