A Republican candidate for the South Dakota State Senate is facing child abuse charges just days before the election.
Koskan is accused of sexually abusing his daughter.
Koskan is running for state senator in District 26.
Koskan was charged with rape, sexual contact with a child under 16, and incest related child on Thursday.
The crimes began when the child was placed in the home at 12 years old. The victim said that she was adopted by the Koskans 10 years ago. She told camp counselors that her father had a sexual interest in her and that he wanted to have sex with her.
She told investigators that because of the uncertainty of the foster care system in South Dakota she wouldn't give any further information.
She told investigators that her parents accused her of trying to break up the family after she returned from the summer camp. She said that her mother started watching her interactions more closely after her father stopped touching her.
Her father was able to watch her live on his cell phone after she returned from the camp. She told her parents that a camera in her room made her feel uncomfortable, only to be told her requests were not respectful.
She stated in her statement to the police that her adoptive father kept a close eye on her, including whether or not she could wear a bra. He made her straddle him when he was a teenager.
It wasn't until she was 17 that she realized that she had been penetrated by her husband's fingers and that she had been having sex with him.
According to court documents, a South Dakota Internet Crimes Against Children investigator examined the victim's cellular device, which she said included an app that monitored her live location and her daily activity. Multiple text messages made reference to her phone's gps tracking and video monitoring, according to investigators. According to the complaint, on May 6, 2022, there was a text message that said, "you promised you wouldn't do this" and "I'm begging you, you don't want to do this"
Court records show that Koskan has been taken into custody. The initial hearing will be held in the courtroom. He could face up to 15 years in prison if he's convicted of the charges.
The chairman of the South Dakota Republican party said that Koskan should end his campaign because of the allegations. Koskan should not be voting on issues that affect children in South Dakota.
Native News Online can't confirm if the victim is a member of a local tribe because of confidentiality and the sensitive nature of the crimes.
Native News Online works to protect the identity and privacy of any alleged victims and witnesses in our reporting. Some identifying details have been left out due to the policy.
The author is a reporter for Native News Online who is based in the Twin Cities of Minnesota. Thompson has reported on political unrest, tribal sovereignty, and Indigenous issues for a number of media outlets. He has written for the New York Times, Washington Post, and Voice of America. He received a bachelor's degree in Criminology and Law Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Dthompson@nativenewsonline.net can be reached.
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