RAPID CITY, S.D. (KELO) — All of the members of the Mitchell Legion Baseball team accused of rape or being an accessory to rape during a tournament last year have submitted their pleas.
An investigation involving two rapes at a Rapid City motel last summer ended with six members of the Post 18 team facing charges in adult court. Prosecutors say the victims were 16-years old.
The final three former members of Mitchell Post 18’s Varsity Legion baseball team returned to the Pennington County Courthouse Monday.
Landon Waddel, Hudson Haley and Karter Sibson all plead guilty to one count of being an accessory to a felony. In exchange for their pleas, rape charges will be dropped.
Accessory to a felony is a class 5 felony, which means the teenagers could face up to 5 years in prison when they’re sentenced and potentially a $10,000 fine.
With the hearings and pleas now complete for the final three members in the Mitchell Baseball Player trial case, we will now be entering a sentencing date where all six players will be in court at the same time.
The State’s Attorney was unable to make any comments on the current situation due to a gag order that is still in place, despite all 6 individuals now pleading guilty.
Monday’s hearing comes two weeks after their former teammates Carter Miller, Payton Mandel, and Lincoln Bates also pleaded guilty. As part of their plea agreements, they also agreed to testify in their teammates’ cases.
By accepting a plea deal Monday, all six individuals waived their rights to keep silent as well as not being able to call or confront witnesses.
All six teenagers are scheduled to return to the courthouse on August 13th for their sentencing.
Prosecutors have said that juveniles are also charged in connection with the rape investigation. Details on those cases are not being made public.
