Watertown Man Sentenced to Prison After Guilty Pleas in Child Sex Offense Case

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - A Watertown man has been sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to multiple child sex offenses, according to Codington County court records.

Jesse James Wittrock, 25, of Watertown, entered guilty pleas on April 1, 2026 to Fourth‑Degree Rape (victim age 13–15) and Sexual Contact with a Child Under 16, both Class 3 felonies.

Court records show Wittrock received:

·         10 years in the South Dakota State Penitentiary, with 5 years suspended, for Sexual Contact with a Child Under 16 Incarceration begins July 15, 2026.

·         534 days in jail, with 534 days credit for time served, for Fourth‑Degree Rape

Wittrock was ordered to pay:

·         $50 court costs

·         $66.50 in surcharges

·         $2,645 in restitution for a court‑ordered psychosexual evaluation

·         Reimbursement to Codington County for court‑appointed attorney fees

Dismissed Charges

The docket shows prosecutors dismissed numerous additional charges on April 1, 2026, including:

·         Multiple counts of Fourth‑Degree Rape

·         Multiple counts of Sexual Contact with a Child Under 16

·         Multiple counts of Solicitation of a Minor

·         Multiple counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor

Those counts were dismissed by motion of the prosecutor.

Court records indicate Wittrock previously faced a series of related charges filed in 2025, including indictments and complaint‑based recharges. Those earlier counts were ultimately resolved through the April 2026 plea agreement.

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