Not guilty plea said in sex-related case

FORT PIERRE — A Fort Pierre man has pleaded not guilty to 26 felony charges involving sex crimes against children.

Bruce Hofer is free on bail. A trial date has not yet been set.

The charges against the 49-year-old Hofer include rape, sexual contact with a person under the age of 16, possession of child pornography and manufacture of child pornography.

Prosecutors say the crimes involve three juveniles and that they were committed from September 2007 through September this year.

At a hearing Wednesday, Judge John Brown approved a defense motion to allow the hiring of a private investigator but denied a request to hire an expert for a psychological evaluation.

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