Cavour Man Indicted on Child Pornography and Enticement Charges

Acting United States Attorney Dennis Holmes announced that a Cavour, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Attempted Production of Child Pornography, Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet, and Transfer of Obscene Material to a Minor.

David Robert Farrell, age 39, was indicted on May 4, 2021.  He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on May 10, 2021, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.

The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to life in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, life of supervised release, and up to $300 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.  Restitution may also be ordered.

The Indictment alleges that on April 22, 2021, Farrell knowingly attempted to employ, use, persuade, induce, entice, and coerce a minor female to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing visual depictions.  Such images would be then transported in interstate and foreign commerce with a computer.

The Indictment also alleges that on or about April 27, 2021, Farrell knowingly traveled to engage in sexual conduct with the same minor.  Farrell again used his cellular telephone to attempt to knowingly persuade that minor to engage in sexual activity.

Finally, the Indictment alleges that between April 22, 2021, and April 23, 2021, Farrell also used his cellular telephone to transfer and attempt to transfer obscene materials to the minor female, who had not attained the age of 16.

The charges are merely accusations and Farrell is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. 

The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey C. Clapper is prosecuting the case.   

Farrell was released on bond pending trial.  A trial date has not been set.