Watertown, SD Man Blake Whitlock Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Child Pornography

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - Blake Russell Whitlock, 28, of Watertown, South Dakota, was sentenced on September 23, 2026, to serve time in the state penitentiary after pleading guilty to two felony counts of possessing child pornography as a habitual offender. Whitlock received consecutive 10-year sentences for each count, with five years suspended on each, resulting in a combined 10 years of active prison time.

According to the September 2026 court disposition, Whitlock entered guilty pleas on August 5, 2026, and admitted to habitual offender status for having prior felonies.

Sentencing and Financial Penalties

The court outlined several penalties and conditions for Whitlock’s current conviction:

·         He was sentenced to 10 years in the penitentiary with five years suspended for Count 4, receiving credit for 131 days already served.

·         He received an identical, consecutive 10-year sentence with five years suspended for Count 5.

·         Restitution for Count 4 was set at $2,645.00, alongside a $285.00 Digital Forensic Fund fee and $116.50 in court costs.

·         Count 5 carries an additional $116.50 in court costs.

·         Multiple other charges, including several counts of Solicitation of a Minor and Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, were dismissed on a motion by the prosecutor.

May 2026 Arrest and Investigation 

These convictions stem from an investigation initiated by the Meridian Police Department in Idaho regarding the suspected sexual exploitation of a 13-year-old girl. Investigators determined that between May 8 and May 11, 2026, Whitlock communicated with the minor via text messages and Snapchat, requesting sexually suggestive photographs in exchange for money and clothing. Police traced the phone number directly to Whitlock and arrested him on May 13, 2026.

Prior Convictions 

This sentencing follows previous felony convictions for similar conduct. On December 18, 2024, Whitlock was sentenced to four years in prison, with six months suspended, after pleading guilty to two counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor. Prosecutors in that 2024 case dismissed 20 additional charges, including 12 counts of Solicitation of a Minor, following a plea agreement. During that previous sentencing, he was also ordered to pay $2,650 in restitution.