Klaudt Pleads Not Guilty

Former lawmaker Ted Klaudt appeared in front of a judge in Meade County Friday afternoon, where he responded to charges that include stalking and raping teenage girls, including some who were his foster children.

His plea was simple, "not guilty."

But what lies ahead for Ted Klaudt is expected to be complex. The 49-year-old from Walker, who was represented Friday by Rapid City Attorney Tim Rensch, faces four counts of second degree rape, including two class one felonies that carry a fifty year prison sentence, two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, two counts of tampering with a witness and one count of stalking.

Klaudt's alleged victims, two of which were his own foster children, claim he tricked them into letting him touch them inappropriately by saying he was going to sell their eggs for thousands of dollars. Investigators say Klaudt went as far as sending emails under an alias. As part of his bond, Klaudt is prohibited indefinitely from using the Internet.

The next court appearance for Klaudt is scheduled for the end of August, in Bison.