35 year-old Hunter Plumman of Rapid City has been sentenced to ten years in prison—the maximum penalty—for sexual contact, classified as a Class 4 felony under South Dakota law.
Plumman entered a guilty plea in April. Originally charged with fourth-degree rape, the charge was reduced as part of a plea agreement. Deputy State’s Attorney Braedon Houdek explained that the decision to accept the plea deal was made to protect the victim from the emotional toll of testifying in court, not to diminish the gravity of the offense. Plumman was found to have sexually assaulted a woman who was incapable of giving consent.
During sentencing, Seventh Circuit Judge Eric Kelderman cited the results of a pre-sentence investigation, which indicated Plumman showed no remorse for his actions. Labeling him a threat to public safety, Judge Kelderman imposed the full ten-year sentence.
The case was prosecuted by Deputy State’s Attorney Braedon Houdek on behalf of the Pennington County State’s Attorney’s Office.
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