South Dakota Senate candidate facing child sex charge posts $100,000 bail

Senate leader says if convicted, candidate won't take his seat in Legislature if elected

Joel Koskan exits a Mellette County Courtroom after facing a felony child sex abuse charge. (Austin Goss/Dakota News Now)

A South Dakota Senate candidate facing prison time on a child sex grooming charge is free Monday night after posting bail.

A Mellette County judge Monday morning set bail for Joel Koskan at $100,000 cash or surety. And according to the South Dakota State’s Attorney’s Office, the 44-year Republican candidate for state Legislature posted bail following the morning’s proceeding, where he made an initial appearance for a class 4 felony charge of exposing a minor to foreseeable harm.

Koskan is accused of sexually grooming a minor in his care over the course of six years and faces up to 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine if convicted.

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