SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) - A former Sioux Falls police officer will be spending about six months behind bars for the distribution of child pornography.
Matthew Alan Jock was sentenced to 178 days in county jail along with two 10-year suspended sentences to be served consecutively.
He was also sentenced to 10 years of supervised probation.
Jock was arrested in February 2022 and took a plea deal in April.
Very few cases have the impact on victims the way that child pornography cases do. Every person who downloads, views, and distributes these images essentially revictimizes these children. Distribution of child pornography is punishable by up to 10 years of penitentiary time. My office argued for an 8-year sentence. We made this argument based upon the nature of the offense coupled with the Defendant’s role in the community. I received numerous calls from the public on this case. It was evident from those calls that the public was outraged by the Defendant’s conduct. Again, we believed that a penitentiary sentence was warranted.
Jock’s attorney, Ryan Kolbeck, responded to Wollman’s statement on Thursday.
It is unfortunate the media was not given notice this sentencing hearing was rescheduled. These cases are difficult and child pornography is a heinous offense for which there are real victims. In these cases, it is easy for a Judge to sentence an offender to prison. But this Court carefully considered all sentencing rationales: rehabilitation, deterrence, and punishment, in making this sentencing decision.
Mr. Jock was evaluated by two psychological professionals, who both understood how proudly Mr. Jock overcame many odds to serve in the Sioux Falls Police Department from 21 and 23 years old. Like other first responders, Mr. Jock experienced both direct trauma and vicarious trauma leading him to isolating himself where he felt ‘lost’ and ‘helpless’. During those moments, he turned to pornography and the Kik Application on two occasions. These professionals recommended outpatient treatment. Dan Meinke, a computer forensic specialist, reviewed the search warrant returns and gave context to the offenses. After reviewing over 1000 cases, Mr. Meinke concluded this to be a rare case. The child pornography in this Kik messaging group was intermingled with other adult legal pornography. Compared to other cases where the offender is looking for deviant pornography, the number of images and videos found was extremely low. Compared to other cases, there was no indication that Mr. Jock ever saved any videos or images.
These factors do not excuse the behavior for which Mr. Jock took full responsibility. After serving six months in jail, Mr. Jock will be on probation for ten years, meaning if he commits any misdemeanor offense, he could go to prison for 20 years. These factors shed light on how the Court could impose sentence that may not please the prosecution or law enforcement, but it is just and appropriate under the circumstances. In my experience, this sentence is on the low range of these offenses, but not unprecedented. Being a young police officer contributed to the cause of this offense, but Mr. Jock was not given leniency due to his former employment.
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