FORT PIERRE, (KCCR) — A Sioux Falls man has changed his plea in a Stanley County sexual assault case. Thirty-year-old Shadu Kawaja pleaded guilty to a charge of Sexual Contact with a Child Under 16 Years Old. In exchange for the guilty plea, the Stanley County State’s Attorney’s Office is dismissing charges of First Degree Rape and Intentional Exposure of a Venereal Disease. The plea deal removes the chance that Kawaja could be sentenced to life in prison on the First Degree Rape charge. Sexual Contact with a Child Under 16 is a Class Three felony, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum of 15 years and a 30-thousand dollar fine. Sixth Circuit Judge Margo Northrup ordered a pre-sentence and psycho-sexual evaluation of Kawaja. Kawaja admitted in law enforcement interviews to having had sex with a nine-year-old female. Court papers say the victim told investigators Kawaja did quote “bad things to me” A medical evaluation of the victim determined the victim contracted gonorrhea from Kawaja. Sentencing is set for Friday February 16th at 10 am.
