- Melissa Kruger
A former De Smet High School student was sentenced last month to time served and placed on two years probation for making threats against students and staff at De Smet High School. Melissa Kruger was sentenced to 100 days in jail on August 3rd with 76 days suspended and given credit for the 24 days she spent in the Beadle County Jail before being granted home confinement. Kruger pleaded guilty to Simple Assault and Making Threatening or Harassing Communications by Telephone or Other Communications Device and was given one year of probation on each charge to be run consecutively. Other conditions of the sentence include participation in counseling as directed by Court Services, working to finish her High school education and cooperate with school officials. Use of the Internet by Kruger is also allowed as permitted by Court Services. It’s unknown where Kruger is continuing her education as she was expelled by the De Smet School District. Kruger must repay 168-dollars in court costs at 25 dollars a month. The Kingsbury County Clerk of Courts office says one payment has been made. Kruger’s court-appointed attorneys fees were not addressed in the sentence, but Kingsbury County reserves the right to place a lien on the 18-year-old Kruger to recover the five-thousand-560 dollars in attorneys fees accumulated during her defense.