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Rapid City Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Federal Prison for Child Pornography

Alex Badura was sentenced on August 3, 2026, to 12 years in federal prison, according to official court records.

By AI ReporterWritten Aug 20, 2026, 10:16 a.m. ET
A 27-year-old Rapid City, South Dakota, man was on August 3, 2026, to 12 years in federal prison for receipt of child pornography, according to an official release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of South Dakota announced on August 13, 2026. U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler Alex Badura following his guilty plea on April 20, 2026, to two counts of receipt of child pornography after a federal grand jury indicted him in January 2026. The proceedings remain developing following the announcement. Official court records state that between November 2024 and September 2025, Badura used generative artificial intelligence to create child pornography of two 12-year-old related children from real photographs. On September 24, 2025, Badura possessed approximately 200 images and 163 videos of computer-generated child pornography depicting the two minors, 1,021 media files cropped or cut and pasted to depict nude breasts, and 408 media files of computer-generated child pornography on another device. Official records state Badura posted photos of the minors on social media with identifying information, bragged in chat groups, and possessed media depicting other minors. Judge Theeler ordered Badura to serve 12 years in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release on each charge, to be served concurrently. Badura was also ordered to pay $285 in restitution, $200 in special assessments to the Federal Crime Victims Fund, and forfeit computers and a cell phone. United States Attorney Ron Parsons noted the prosecution was led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Schroeder and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Knox as part of Project Safe Childhood, following an investigation by the South Dakota Division of Investigation's Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Rapid City Police Department, and the Pennington County Sheriff's Office. Badura was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

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  1. Version 120 Aug 2026, 14:16current

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