Embezzlement-related counts against two Redfield men have been dismissed in Spink County.
Charges were filed in 2021 against Roger Waldner, 60, Redfield; Ernest G. Ambort, 83, Redfield; and Ronald P. Clemenson, 60, Aberdeen. Â It was alleged the men conspired in 2017 to use a woman’s power of attorney to sell her land valued at more than $500,000.
Now, the charges against Ambort and Waldner have been dropped.
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The case is being prosecuted by the South Dakota Attorney General’s Office. Several charges remain against Clemenson, with his trial set for May.
The allegations against the men were not part of a cohesive series of events, so they don’t qualify as a conspiracy, according to court paperwork.
In recent Brown County felony cases:
- Jay A. Grabinski, 43, Aberdeen, was convicted at trial of distribution of methamphetamine. He then admitted to having three or more prior felony convictions, which increased the maximum potential sentence on the distribution charge. He was sentenced to 30 years in prison with 10 years suspended and fined $117.
- Layton F. Left Hand, 37, Aberdeen, pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine. He received a five-year suspended prison sentence, was placed on probation for two years and was fined $617.
- Daryl W. Smith, 35, Pierre, pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine. He was sentenced to five years in prison with four years and six months suspended and was given credit for six months served.
- Damian Santiago, 21, Aberdeen, pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation of a minor for allowing a 16-year-old to create a visual depiction of a sexual nature involving nudity. He received a two-year suspended prison term, was placed on probation for two years and was fined $617.
- Eric A. Doney, 29, Aberdeen, pleaded guilty to third-offense driving under the influence. He had his driver’s license revoked for one year and was sentenced to 60 days in jail, placed on probation for two years and ordered to pay $1,277.