JUNE 18, 2024:
RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — Three of six South Dakota players from a baseball team made up of high school-aged players who were charged as adults last summer with rape have pleaded guilty to a lesser felony charge.
Two former members of the American Legion team from Mitchell pleaded guilty Monday (June 17, 2024) to being an accessory to a felony, KELO-TV reported. Another player reached the same plea deal earlier this month. All three could face up to five years in prison when they’re sentenced in August.
Three other players who were charged as adults last August still face the original counts of second-degree rape and aiding and abetting second-degree rape. The have a status hearing July 1.
Meanwhile, another three players were charged in juvenile court.
According to prosecutors, the victims were 16 when they were sexually assaulted during a tournament in Rapid City last June.
The American Legion sponsors summer baseball leagues for high school-aged players throughout the U.S.
JUNE 12, 2024:
MITCHELL, S.D. (AP) — One of the several former players on an American Legion baseball team in South Dakota charged last year with rape has pleaded guilty to a lesser felony.
The 19-year-old former Mitchell player pleaded guilty to one count of accessory to a felony, according to court documents cited by KELO-TV on Tuesday (June 11, 2024). Sentencing is in August 2024 and as part of a plea agreement, the former player agreed to testify against other defendants.
The American Legion sponsors summer baseball leagues for high school-aged players throughout the U.S.
In August 2023, six players were indicted by a grand jury for second-degree rape and aiding and abetting second-degree rape. Three others were charged in juvenile court. The indictments said the victims were 16 when they were assaulted during a tournament in Rapid City, South Dakota, in June 2023.
The other players charged in the case are scheduled to be in court for a status hearing July 1, 2024.
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.
JULY 19, 2023:
MITCHELL – Allegations of sexual assault involving members of the Mitchell Post 18 Legion varsity baseball team are being reviewed by the Pennington County State’s Attorney’s Office.
A statement, released Wednesday by that office, said that the primary acts are alleged to have happened in Pennington County and that officials there have the Division of Criminal Investigation’s report.
The statement read in part: “The Pennington County State’s Attorney’s Office is presently reviewing the file under no definite timeline and will provide further information as it is available.”
On July 13, 2023, the Mitchell Baseball Association terminated the season of the Post 18 varsity team, which last played on June 20.
Mitchell was to have played in a tournament from June 22-25 in Gillette, Wyoming. The team traveled through Rapid City en route to Wyoming.
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