04-07-2025
Mitchell man indicted on 44 felony counts related to child sexual abuse
Jul. 3—MITCHELL — A Mitchell man is now facing 44 felony charges, including first- and fourth-degree rape, aggravated incest and the manufacturing and possession of child sexual abuse material, following a new indictment handed down Wednesday by a Davison County Grand Jury. The indictment against Eric Mark Opperman, 48, supersedes an earlier 12-count indictment and adds 32 additional charges. The case now involves three children, all 13 years old or younger at the time of the alleged offenses.
According to South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley, the alleged crimes occurred between 2013 and 2025.
"These charges reflect our unwavering commitment to protecting our children," Jackley said in a statement. "Crimes of this nature will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."
The investigation began after a 13-year-old boy reported to Mitchell police that Opperman had raped him five times, with the first incident occurring when he was 8 years old and the most recent "two or three weeks ago." Police later identified two additional child victims.
Court documents show that during the investigation, officers requested access to Opperman's phone, which he initially claimed was broken. The device was later recovered, and after Opperman provided the passcode, investigators found two recently deleted videos allegedly showing him engaging in sexual acts.
Opperman appeared in Davison County Felony Court on Tuesday for a motions hearing, where his defense team requested approval to hire forensic computer and phone specialists, as well as a fingerprint expert. The defense also filed a motion to add a co-counsel and requested to move the jury trial from August to October, which the court granted.
Opperman's arraignment on the new charges is scheduled for 1 p.m. July 15 in Davison County Circuit Court. If convicted, he faces maximum penalties ranging from 10 years to life in prison, depending on the charge.
The case is being investigated by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation and the Mitchell Police Department. The Attorney General's Office and Davison County State's Attorney will prosecute.
