A 40-year-old Rapid City man pleaded not guilty Tuesday morning to accusations of child abuse and bestiality.
A Pennington County grand jury charged Brian Johnson on July 26, and he was booked into the jail on Aug. 2. The indictment charged him with four felonies: solicitation of a minor, child abuse, bestiality and cruelty to an animal.
Johnson entered not guilty pleas after he stated he understood the charges and the penalties against him.
The state alleges Johnson solicited a minor to engage in sexual acts between Dec. 22, 2022 and Jan. 16, 2023, and that he abused a 13-year-old in that timeframe.
The alleged bestiality occurred on March 15 and was caught on camera, Deputy Pennington County States Attorney Jason Thomas said at Johnson's initial appearance in court following his arrest.
Johnson is employed at the Avantara St. Cloud nursing home in Rapid City as a kitchen worker, Borge said. He noted the investigation into Johnson began in January, and he did not flee during the investigation.
Deputy Pennington County State's Attorney Alexandra Weiss said the $10,000 cash only bond is "appropriate given the nature of the charges." She said Johnson is a danger to the community, minors and animals.
After taking a few minutes to review Johnson's file, the judge said he would keep the bond at $10,000 cash only. He said he was concerned about Johnson working at a nursing home with vulnerable people, and advised that Avantara St. Cloud look into Johnson.
Rapid City man pleads not guilty to bestiality, child abuse
A 40-year-old Rapid City man pleaded not guilty Tuesday morning to accusations of child abuse and bestiality.
