South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley says an investigation into a former state DMV employee has now identified 50 victims connected to unlawful computer access and computer-generated pornography.
Sixty-eight-year-old Mark Rathbun of Aberdeen was first charged in November with solicitation of rape, child pornography possession, and unauthorized computer use. Investigators later found driver’s license images on dozens of electronic devices seized from his home.
A new 85-count indictment filed this week dramatically expands the case. It includes 26 counts of child pornography possession — most involving computer-generated images of real children — along with 18 counts accusing Rathbun of distributing or selling those images. The remaining 40 charges involve illegally accessing or copying confidential driver’s license data.
At least two victims whose driver’s license photos were taken also appeared in computer-generated images, including one depicted in ten separate files.
Jackley says investigators are still reviewing evidence and will continue notifying potential victims. If convicted on all counts, Rathbun faces up to 395 years in prison.
He’s one of several former state employees charged with crimes in recent years, including cases involving theft, falsified inspections, and fraudulent state documents.
