The disturbing reality of domestic exploitation can expose some adopted children to severe physical abuse, ongoing sexual abuse, and intense emotional abuse, inflicting profound personal injury and lifelong psychological damage. According to a November 2022 report by Darren Thompson from Native News Online, Joel M. Koskan, a former Republican candidate for the South Dakota State Senate was arrested and charged for rape, sexual contact with a child under sixteen, and aggravated incest against his adopted daughter. Court documents detail an escalating timeline of exploitation beginning in 2014 when the victim was just 12 years old. Even though she initially attempted to report the inappropriate touching to summer camp counselors, she did not want to reveal any further details to the Department of Social Services out of fear of South Dakota’s knowingly awful foster care system. Koskan and his wife allegedly responded by accusing the child of trying to destroy their family and put her under extreme, invasive surveillance, which included installing a live-feed camera in her bedroom and tracking her daily movements through a GPS phone app. Investigators discovered that this highly controlling environment enabled repeated instances of sexual intercourse by the time the victim turned 17, supported by digital forensic evidence showing Koskan texting the victim to beg her not to expose his crimes. Facing up to 15 years in prison and widespread demands from political leaders to immediately drop his campaign, Koskan’s arrest shows the severe dangers children face when trapped in homes governed by manipulation and predatory behavior.
Thompson, D. (2022, November 4). South Dakota Senate Candidate Charged with Multiple Sexual Acts Against Adopted Child. Yahoo News. https://www.yahoo.com/news/south-dakota-senate-candidate-charged-010458163.html