A Rapid City man entered an Alford plea Tuesday, to fourth-degree rape in a case that originally involved more serious charges.
David Sprague made the plea during a hearing before Circuit Court Judge Jeffery Connolly. Under an Alford plea, a defendant maintains innocence while acknowledging prosecutors have sufficient evidence to convict. The plea is legally treated as a guilty plea.
Sprague was initially charged with first-degree rape stemming from an August 2023 incident involving an 11-year-old. Under a plea agreement, the charge was reduced to fourth-degree rape, and prosecutors will recommend local jail time or probation at sentencing.
Sprague is scheduled to be sentenced at 3:30 p.m. on June 9.
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