Yankton man faces four charges in local court

Jaden Hash Brown, 19, of Yankton, pleaded not guilty to four criminal counts during a Nov. 3 hearing in First Judicial Circuit Court. The proceedings took place in Bon Homme County following a grand jury indictment filed on Oct. 22.

The indictment lists two Class 6 felony counts for sexual exploitation of a minor and one Class 3 felony count for sexual contact with a child under 16. It also includes one Class 1 misdemeanor count for sexual contact with a child under 16. Court records identify the victims as Minor 1 and Minor 2. The first two charges relate to Minor 1, while the latter two relate to Minor 2.

The Class 3 felony charge alleges an incident that occurred on or about July 21, 2026, involving a victim under the age of 13. If convicted, Brown faces a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 10 years and a maximum of 15 years. The court may also impose a fine of up to $30,000.

The two Class 6 felony counts each carry a maximum prison term of two years and a fine of up to $4,000. The Class 1 misdemeanor count carries a maximum term of one year in county jail and a fine of up to $2,000.

A jury trial for the case is scheduled for March.