Latest news with #DavisonCounty
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Yahoo
Davison County Sheriff's Office investigating shooting at I-90 off ramp
Jul. 13—MITCHELL — The Davison County Sheriff's Office is investigating a shooting that occured Saturday night on an Interstate 90 off ramp about five miles west of Mitchell. According to Steve Harr, sheriff for Davison County, a passerby contacted law enforcement about the incident at about 9:30 p.m. When responders arrived on the scene, they found a vehicle parked on the Betts Road exit westbound off ramp and an individual with a gunshot wound. The individual, whose name is not being released at this time, was taken to Avera Queen of Peace Hospital in Mitchell where they later died. Harr said the Davison County Sheriff's Office is still looking into the incident and has made no conclusions as of Sunday afternoon, but the preliminary investigation suggests the death could be a result of suicide. "It's pretty early yet, and everything is still under investigation," Harr told the Mitchell Republic. The off ramp was closed during the investigation but reopened to traffic later in the evening. Harr said there was no danger to the public stemming from the incident and the investigation is still underway. In addition to the Davison County Sheriff's Office, other responding agencies included the Mitchell Regional Ambulance Service and the South Dakota Highway Patrol.
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Yahoo
Mitchell man indicted on 44 felony counts related to child sexual abuse
Jul. 3—MITCHELL — A Mitchell man is now facing 44 felony charges, including first- and fourth-degree rape, aggravated incest and the manufacturing and possession of child sexual abuse material, following a new indictment handed down Wednesday by a Davison County Grand Jury. The indictment against Eric Mark Opperman, 48, supersedes an earlier 12-count indictment and adds 32 additional charges. The case now involves three children, all 13 years old or younger at the time of the alleged offenses. According to South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley, the alleged crimes occurred between 2013 and 2025. "These charges reflect our unwavering commitment to protecting our children," Jackley said in a statement. "Crimes of this nature will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law." The investigation began after a 13-year-old boy reported to Mitchell police that Opperman had raped him five times, with the first incident occurring when he was 8 years old and the most recent "two or three weeks ago." Police later identified two additional child victims. Court documents show that during the investigation, officers requested access to Opperman's phone, which he initially claimed was broken. The device was later recovered, and after Opperman provided the passcode, investigators found two recently deleted videos allegedly showing him engaging in sexual acts. Opperman appeared in Davison County Felony Court on Tuesday for a motions hearing, where his defense team requested approval to hire forensic computer and phone specialists, as well as a fingerprint expert. The defense also filed a motion to add a co-counsel and requested to move the jury trial from August to October, which the court granted. Opperman's arraignment on the new charges is scheduled for 1 p.m. July 15 in Davison County Circuit Court. If convicted, he faces maximum penalties ranging from 10 years to life in prison, depending on the charge. The case is being investigated by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation and the Mitchell Police Department. The Attorney General's Office and Davison County State's Attorney will prosecute.
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Yahoo
Mitchell man pleads not guilty to fourth-degree rape
Jun. 18—MITCHELL — A Mitchell man charged last month with fourth-degree rape following an investigation into allegations of sexual activity with a minor has pleaded not guilty in court. Riley Brown, 22, appeared before a Davison County judge Tuesday and entered a not guilty plea to one count of fourth-degree rape, a Class 3 felony. The charge stems from a report filed with the Mitchell Police Department on April 3, 2025, which alleged multiple incidents of rape that reportedly occurred in 2021 and 2023. According to court documents, the victim told police she was about 14 years old when the first incident took place in the summer of 2021, and that Brown was 18 at the time. Investigators later determined Brown would have been 19 years old during the first alleged incident. During a police interview on May 22, Brown admitted to having sexual intercourse with the victim during the summer of 2021, stating he believed she was 16 years old but acknowledged he never asked her age and simply assumed. Brown told investigators he had sex with the victim about five times in 2021, all while the victim would have been 15. Brown made his initial court appearance on May 23 and was released on bail. After pleading not guilty, a jury trial has been scheduled for October. In South Dakota, a Class 3 felony carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in a state correctional facility and a fine of up to $30,000.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Marshall Mitchell: Mitchell City Council to consider a resolution expressing interest in state prison coming to Davison County
Jun. 1—MITCHELL — In addition to the second reading of an ordinance and considering a motion to adopt term limits for council members and the mayor, and a second reading of an ordinance and considering a motion to adopt rental inspections, the Mitchell City Council, during its regular meeting on June 2, will also consider a resolution to express interest in the construction of a state correctional facility in Davison County. Local developer and landlord Justin Thiesse believes that stable jobs backed by the state will bring in the kind of income that supports homeownership and fuels local business patronage in Mitchell. "I believe Mitchell needs the prison. Adding 400 well-paid, state-employed correctional officers—and their families—is exactly the kind of growth we should be welcoming," Thiesse said. Thiesse says that the millions invested into new housing in Mitchell has not been backed up with quality jobs that justify those developments. State correctional officers are scrutinized with background checks by the state and have gun licenses, which is just the type of person locals want living down the street, according to Thiesse. A concern among residents about prisoners near Mitchell may mean locals lose out on the benefits that the prison workforce could bring to the local economy, according to Thiesse. "Everyone says they want more restaurants, shopping, and activities for our kids — well, this is how it starts — by saying yes to jobs," Thiesse said. According to a Mitchell Area Development Corporation state prison proposal, a $2.88 million 160 acre potential prison site is located near the Mitchell Regional Landfill, and is owned by James River Farms. The location is outside of Mitchell city limits in Davison County. In April, the city of Mitchell approved a $3.48 million 10-year purchase agreement for a different 160 acre plat owned by James River Farms to increase the capacity of the landfill. A new state penitentiary has been a matter of discussion across the state for quite some time, with opposition for a previous Lincoln County site drawing negative feedback from locals and resulted in a lack of support in the state legislature, which led to the prison task force looking for a new site. The council will also consider a change order for the $39.2 million South Wastewater Treatment Facility, with $31.32 million budgeted to John T. Jones Construction. The change order is an increase of $366,000 for piping, connections, excavation, and concrete projects, among other items. The council will also consider a change order for the jetty project at Lake Mitchell, an increase of $31,094 to bring the total new contract amount to $2.72 million. And the council will consider paying estimates for various construction projects in the amount of $2 million. The City Council will also sit as the Board of Adjustment for a variance permit for LifeQuest's mini home village in the 1000 block of East Eighth Avenue. The variance calls for a front yard set back of 10 feet instead of 25 feet, rear yard set back of 20 feet instead of 25 feet and side yard setback of three feet instead of five feet. The council will also consider two types of liquor licenses applications for Adamo's Kitchen at 223 N. Main St. One license is for a retail malt beverage and the other for a retail wine and cider license, the latter of which allows for the consumption and sales of wine outside of establishments on the sidewalk as long as food sale income makes up at least half of total sales. Video lottery is not included. The wine on sidewalks ordinance was introduced in 2014. At this time, there are 28 total retail wine and cider licenses active in Mitchell, according to the Mitchell Finance Office. A full agenda can be read on the city's website. The council meeting starts at 6 p.m. on Monday, June 2 at 612 N. Main St.
