A Sully County man has been sentenced (Sept. 30, 2022) to the South Dakota State Penitentiary after he pleaded guilty in cases involving rape and attempted rape charges.
According to the State Attorney General’s Office, Kenden Ronald Rivenes pleaded guilty earlier this year (June 7, 2022) to Rape in the 3rd Degree for crimes that occurred on Jan. 5, 2020. He also pleaded guilty to Aggravated Assault for crimes that occurred on October 9, 2021. After two years of court hearings and speaking with the victims, a plea agreement was reached. After his guilty pleas Rivenes had faced a maximum of 40 years in the penitentiary.
Court information says Rivenes was sentenced to 25 years in the Penitentiary on the Rape conviction with 14 years of that sentence suspended. Rivenes was also sentenced to 15 years in the Penitentiary with 10 years of that suspended on the Aggravated Assault conviction. The sentences were ordered to be served concurrently (at the same time).
Assistant Attorney General Kimberly Zachrison handled the prosecution. She says when someone is raped, they receive a life sentence because they struggle with what happened to them for the rest of their lives.
These crimes were investigated by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation and the Sully County Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by the South Dakota Attorney General’s office.
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