Mobridge man pleads guilty to child pornography charges

Scott Waltman

Aug. 5, 2009 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- Two local men charged with sex crimes and two area women accused of stealing have made recent court appearances.

In Walworth County, Jeremy R. Carlson, 29, of Mobridge pleaded guilty to five counts of possession of child pornography. He was not sentenced. Each count is a felony punishable by as much as 15 years in state prison and a $30,000 fine.

Carlson was originally charged with additional counts of possession of child pornography, but they were dismissed in exchange for his guilty pleas. He was also originally charged with a count of bestiality, but it was previously dismissed.

Charles F. Edwards, 36, of Aberdeen has been charged in Brown County with counts of statutory rape and sexual contact with a victim under 16 years of age. He has not entered pleas to the charges.

Each crime is a felony punishable by as much as 15 years in state prison and a $30,000 fine.

A Redfield woman has admitted to stealing money from residents of a local nursing home.

Rhonda M. Hammer, 48, pleaded guilty to burglary. The crime is a felony punishable by as much as 15 years in state prison and a $30,000 fine.

Vic Fischbach, Spink County state's attorney, said Hammer stole a total of a couple of thousand dollars from nursing home residents by breaking into their rooms and taking $20 to $50 at a time. Fischbach said Hammer was arrested after authorities set up a security system and planted money in rooms. When searching Hammer's home, they found bills with serial numbers that matched those of the bills they planted, Fischbach said.

Hammer has not yet been sentenced, but Fischbach said restitution will be a term of the sentence.

In Day County, a Webster woman has admitted to embezzling from the grain elevator in Holmquist.

Sherry L. Markel, 53, pleaded guilty to embezzlement, a felony punishable by as much as 10 years in state prison and a $20,000 fine.

Fischbach, who prosecuted Markel because the case was a conflict of interest for Day County State's Attorney Danny Smeins, said Markel stole at least $40,000 from the elevator over the course of years.

Markel was not sentenced, but restitution -- which Fischbach said victims claim could be more than $100,000 -- will be a part of the sentence.

Newstex ID: KRTB-0002-36984806