SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — A former teacher at the Whittier Middle School is charged with more improper actions involving juveniles.
Justin Preuschl has been indicted by a federal grand jury on 16 child pornography related charges, the U.S. Attorney’s office in South Dakota said.
Preuschl, 27, was indicted in June and pleaded not guilty on June 7. He had been charged with solicitation of a 13-year-old in March by the South Dakota Attorney General’s office.
Preuschl’s contract as social social studies teacher was terminated on April 8, according to school board minutes. It was effective on March 31.
The district said in March that there was no reason to believe the March charge from the Attorney General was related to a school incident.
Under the federal charges, Preuschl is accused of pretending to be a 15-year-old male while engaging in sexually explicit communications with multiple juvenile victims. Federal officials said Preuschl allegedly pressured victims into sending him sexually explicit photos and that he sent explicit photos to the victims. The alleged incidents started in October of 2023 and continued into this year.
He is charged with six counts of attempted production of child pornography, three counts of production of child pornography and seven counts of transfer of obscene materials to minors.
Preuschl was employed as a teacher at the time of many of the charged offenses, according to the U.S. attorney’s office.
Court documents for the March charge said the alleged victim was a 13-year-old child and the investigation started across state lines in Iowa.
