S.D. (KOTA) – A 22-year-old man accused of exploiting a child online changed his plea to guilty Wednesday in Pennington County federal court
Federal prosecutors said Kayden Laing targeted an out-of-state minor using an online gaming platform.
Laing appeared at the Pennington County federal courthouse Wednesday, where he entered a guilty plea as part of a plea deal.
According to federal court records, the alleged contact occurred between October 2024 and 2025.
Investigators said Laing used the gaming app Roblox and an internet-connected cell phone to communicate with an 11-year-old girl living in South Carolina. Authorities said the two initially met on Roblox before moving communications to text messages.
Court documents show Laing claimed to be 15 years old during those exchanges, despite actually being 19.
Investigators allege Laing repeatedly coerced the girl into taking and sending explicit photos and videos of herself.
Laing remains in custody at the Pennington County Jail awaiting his next court appearance, which has not been set.
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