Former Idaho police officer convicted in South Dakota of child sex abuse | Idaho

SOUTH DAKOTA – A former police officer was convicted after a two-day jury trial in federal district court in Rapid City.

Lloyd Emerson Elk, 47, of Kyle, South Dakota, was indicted by a federal grand jury in March 2024 on four counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a minor, one count of abusive sexual contact and one count of witness tampering.

During the trial, it was determined that Elk had sexually abused a young girl between the ages of five and seven on multiple occasions. For years, Elk used domestic violence to control the victim and her family, including physical and emotional abuse.

Elk told the victim that he would kill her and her family if she ever told anyone about the sexual abuse. When the victim finally disclosed the abuse in late 2023, the investigation revealed that Elk had sexually abused another young girl in 1998 – while employed as a police officer in Idaho – and had made similar threats to her in an attempt to keep her quiet.

The guilty verdict was announced on July 2, 2024. The charges carry the following penalties:

• Serious sexual abuse of minors carries a minimum sentence of 30 years to life imprisonment.
• In the case of abusive sexual contact, a prison sentence of several years up to life imprisonment can be imposed.
• The maximum penalty for witness tampering is 20 years in prison.

A pre-trial hearing was ordered and a sentencing date of October 2, 2024 was set. The defendant was transferred to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.