Justia South Dakota Supreme Court Opinion Summaries

Defendant pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance, a Class 5 felony, and admitted the allegations of a habitual criminal information alleging that she had two prior felony convictions. Because of Defendant’s prior convictions, the circuit court imposed a Class 4 felony penitentiary sentence. The court did not state on the record any aggravating circumstances justifying a departure from presumptive probation. Defendant appealed, arguing that the circuit court erred in failing to sentence her to probation pursuant to the presumptive probation requirements. The Supreme Court reversed and remanded for sentencing, holding that the circuit court erred when it failed to state the aggravating circumstances on the record or in the judgment. View "State v. Flowers" on Justia Law

Defendant was stopped by a police officer because his vehicle’s left brake light was not working. Defendant was subsequently arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol. Defendant filed a motion to suppress. The circuit court granted the motion, concluding (1) since the relevant statute required only two working brake lights Defendant did not violate the law because his vehicle’s right and top-center brake lights were working; and (2) the officer’s belief that South Dakota law required a working left and right brake light was objectively unreasonable. The Supreme Court reversed, holding (1) the most reasonable interpretation of the pertinent statute is that the Legislature intended the display and actuation requirements to apply only to two brake lights; but (2) it was objectively reasonable for an officer to believe that Defendant’s inoperative left brake light constituted a violation of law. View "State v. Lerma" on Justia Law

After a jury trial, Defendant was convicted of sexual contact with a child under sixteen years of age. Defendant appealed, arguing that there was insufficient evidence to support his conviction and that the prosecutor committed misconduct by making a misstatement of law during closing arguments. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding (1) Defendant’s act of pressing his erect penis against the victim's buttocks constituted sexual contact and, as a result, a violation of S.D. Codified Laws 22-22-7, and thus, the circuit court did not err in denying Defendant’s motion for judgment of acquittal; and (2) the prosecutor’s closing argument was not erroneous and did not constitute prosecutorial misconduct. View "State v. Bariteau" on Justia Law

Pursuant to a plea agreement, Defendant pleaded guilty to a charge of unauthorized ingestion of a controlled substance. At the change of plea hearing, the State agreed to recommend a light sentence with no jail time. At sentencing, however, the State impliedly argued for a harsher sentence. The circuit court sentenced Defendant to five years of imprisonment with one year suspended. The Supreme Court vacated Defendant’s sentence and remanded for resentencing, holding that the State’s failure to recommend a light sentence and no jail time at sentencing was a material and substantial breach of the plea agreement. View "State v. Slotsky" on Justia Law

Defendant was charged with three counts of simple assault against a law enforcement officer, among other offenses. Defendant served a subpoena on the county sheriff requesting all disciplinary records and complaints contained within the arresting officer’s personnel file. The sheriff filed a motion to quash the subpoena. The circuit court denied the motion in part and ordered the sheriff to produce, for in camera review, portions of the officer’s personnel records from the past five years. The Supreme Court reversed, holding that the circuit court erred in ordering the sheriff to produce the arresting officer’s personnel records for in camera review. View "State v. Smith" on Justia Law

Defendant was charged with two counts of simple assault against a law enforcement officer, among other offenses. Defendant served a subpoena on the county sheriff requesting all disciplinary records and complaints contained within the personnel files of three sheriff department detectives. The sheriff moved to quash the subpoena. The circuit court denied the motion in part and ordered the sheriff to produce, for in camera review, complaints against the officers and disciplinary records and actions resulting from the incident for which Defendant was charged. The Supreme Court reversed, holding that the circuit court erred in ordering the sheriff to produce portions of the three detectives’ personnel records for in camera review. View "State v. Johnson" on Justia Law

Defendant pleaded guilty to first-degree burglary. The circuit court sentenced Defendant to twenty years in prison with four years suspended and credit for time served. Defendant appealed, alleging that he received ineffective assistance of counsel, that the circuit court erred in denying his request for a new trial, and that his sentence constituted cruel and unusual punishment. The Supreme Court reversed, holding that the circuit court erred when it did not address Defendant’s motion for a change of counsel. Remanded for the circuit court to appoint new counsel and conduct a new sentencing hearing. View "State v. Martinez" on Justia Law

A jury convicted Cleve Janis, Jr. of third-degree rape in 2015. Janis appealed, arguing that the circuit court erred when it admitted undisclosed expert testimony. Janis also argued that the prosecutor committed misconduct through various statements during trial and that there was improper contact between a juror and a spectator. Finding no reversible error, the Supreme Court affirmed. View "South Dakota v. Janis" on Justia Law

Appellant pleaded guilty to simple assault. Appellant was sentenced to two years in the penitentiary - the maximum penalty - with no credit for time served. Appellant appealed, challenging the circuit court’s failure to give credit for time served and the constitutionality of his sentence. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding (1) the circuit court erred in failing to give credit for time served; and (2) Appellant’s sentence was not grossly disproportionate to the crime of simple assault and was thus constitutional under the Eighth Amendment. Remanded for correction of Appellant’s sentence to give credit for time served. View "State v. Ainsworth" on Justia Law

After a jury trial, Defendant was convicted of simple assault. Defendant appealed, arguing that the prosecutor’s reference to Defendant’s attorney in cross-examination and closing argument violated his Sixth Amendment right to counsel and deprived him of a fair trial. The Supreme Court affirmed Defendant’s convictions, holding (1) under the circumstances of this case, the prosecutor’s statements improperly suggested to the jury that Defendant and his defense counsel concocted a false defense to avoid a guilty verdict; but (2) a new trial was not warranted because Defendant was not prejudiced. View "State v. Pursley" on Justia Law