SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — A man running for a seat in the South Dakota Senate is facing criminal charges.

Court documents filed against 44-year old Joel Koskan show the Wood, S.D. man is charged with child abuse. The Republican is running for a District 26 Senate seat.

A criminal complaint signed by Assistant Attorney General Mandy Miller alleges that Koskan exposed a minor to a foreseeable harm from 2014 to 2020 in Mellette County. The complaint alleges that Koskan exposed a victim to sexual grooming behaviors.

The South Dakota Democratic Party is calling for Koskan to end his campaign. Chair Randy Seiler released the following statement: “These allegations concerning Joel Koskan are deeply disturbing, and he should immediately end his campaign. While he will still appear on the ballot, the choice for the voters of District 26 couldn’t be clearer. Partisan politics aside, Joel Koskan should not be voting in the legislature on issues that affect South Dakota kids – or any issues at all.”

Dan Lederman, chair of the South Dakota GOP, emailed KELOLAND News a statement: “The allegation against Joel Koskan is very serious, and the South Dakota Republican Party unequivocally opposes child abuse in all forms.  The South Dakota Republican Party trusts the justice system to work through the allegation.”

Koskan and Rep. Shawn Bordeaux, a Democrat from Mission, are seeking the Senate seat in District 26. The seat is now held by Sen. Troy Heinert, a Democrat from Mission who is term-limited and couldn’t seek reelection. Bordeaux shared the following via email: “The allegations against Joel Koskan are completely unacceptable and it is clear that he should not represent District 26.  These allegations also speak to some of the concerns I have about the foster care and adoption system in South Dakota and how it affects our Native American communities.”

Koskan lost to Heinert in the 2020 election, 4,416-3,941, and in the 2018 election, 3,896-3,450. His father, John Koskan, a Wood Republican, served 16 years in the legislature.