Watertown man facing multiple sex crime charges

January 16, 2023
Mike Tanner

WATERTOWN, S.D.–A Watertown man faces sex crime charges following his arrest as he got off a plane at Watertown Regional Airport Friday.

Forty four year-old Ted (T.J.) Hurkes faces eight counts of Possessing and Manufacturing child pornography, First Degree Rape of a child under the age of 13, Sexual Contact with a Child Under 16, and Sexual Exploitation of a Minor.

Authorities executed a search warrant at his home in the 1100-block of 17th Street Northeast, where additional evidence was secured.

Hurkes was being held in the Codington County Detention Center on $65,000 cash only bond. He remained in custody as of this (Monday) morning.

Watertown police were assisted in the investigation by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation and Homeland Security.

They say the investigation is ongoing and additional charges are pending.