APRIL 18, 2024:
Six Mitchell American Legion baseball players have been accused of rape stemming from an incident in June of 2023 when the team was in Rapid City for a baseball tournament. Three of the accused were under the age of 18 at the time of the alleged crime and have asked to have their cases moved to juvenile court. That motion is pending. The other three were 18 at the time of the incident and will stand trial as adults.
Head Coach Luke Norden and Mitchell Baseball Association President Jeremy Borgan also faced charges. Borgan was charged with one count of Failure to Report Abuse or Neglect while Norden faced two charges of Failure to Report Abuse or Neglect along with two charges of misprision of a felony.
Wednesday (April 17, 2024) in First Circuit Court in Davison County, the charges against Borgan were dismissed. Norden was acquitted at trial on all four charges.
The judge was critical of the Pennington County State’s Attorney’s Office for their prosecutorial decisions, citing them for “selective prosecution” and failing to meet the burden of proof necessary for a conviction.
The American Legion Department of South Dakota had previously decided to suspend American Legion Post 18’s affiliation and sponsorship of the Mitchell Baseball Association until all court proceedings have been completed.
The six accused players are scheduled for a July 1 court date at the Pennington County Courthouse in Rapid City.
Story courtesy of news partner KMIT.
AUGUST 3, 2023:
RAPID CITY – Six Mitchell Post 18 Legion baseball players have been charged with rape in an alleged incident that led to the team’s season being terminated before the postseason.
Six men face charges of second degree rape and aiding and abetting second degree rape in an alleged assault in June in Rapid City while the team was traveling to Gillette, Wyoming for a tournament.
The Pennington County State’s Attorney released the identities of the suspects: 18-year-old Hudson Michael Haley, 19-year-old Landon William Waddell, 17-year-old Peyton Douglas Mandel, 18-year-old Lincoln Charles Bates, 17-year-old Carter Ryan Miller and 17-year-old Karter Marcus Sibson.
Haley and Waddell each face additional counts of second degree rape and aiding and abetting because the charges involve two separate victims.
The charges were based on grand jury testimony from five individuals, including two agents from the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation.
Second degree rape is defined by South Dakota law as sexual penetration of any person through the use of force, coercion or threats of immediate and great bodily harm accompanied by apparent power of execution.
All the charges are Class 1 felonies, punishable by up to 50 years in prison and an optional fine of up to $50,000.
Post 18’s season was paused in June when the allegations and investigation were revealed, and the season was terminated in early July.
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