Moore pleads not guilty in South Dakota for taking Sask. children across border

A man charged after an Amber Alert was issued for two children in Saskatchewan in August has pleaded not guilty to charges against him in South Dakota.

Benjamin Martin Moore was charged with illegally bringing two children and their mother from Saskatchewan across the Canada-U.S. border.

He also faces charges for allegedly possessing and transporting computer files that contained child porn.

According to a statement at the time from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Moore, his common-law partner and her two children “crossed into the United States illegally by driving through a barbed wire fence located near the Turner Port of Entry.”

That border crossing is straight south of Climax in southwestern Saskatchewan. It’s the crossing closest to their home in Eastend.

The seven-year-old girl and eight-year-old boy were at the centre of the Amber Alert, which was issued after the Ministry of Social Services got an apprehension order for the kids. That order was sought after a well-being check at the family home in Eastend found the residence vacant.

The kids were believed to be travelling with their mother and with Moore, whose criminal history includes convictions for sexual interference of a minor and possession of child pornography.

Having reason to believe the group had gone to South Dakota, the RCMP extended the Amber Alert to that state.

According to the Rapid City Journal, the Meade County sheriff’s office and other law enforcement agents searched the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally campgrounds after receiving the alert.

The vehicle described in the alert was found at a campground, and Moore and his common-law partner were found and detained.

Moore is also facing charges in Canada for failing to report a change of address, which is required for convicted sex offenders, and breaching a previous court order to not have weapons.

— With files from The Canadian Press