Wessington Springs School Superintendent Lance Witte pleaded guilty to driving with a revoked license Tuesday in exchange for having the conviction withheld from his record. Witte’s lawyer Doug Dailey of Mitchell announced the plea agreement to Judge David Gienapp who granted the use of audio under expanded court coverage rules put in place last month…
[audio:http://prprt.itmwpb.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/688/2011/08/witteplea1.mp3|titles=witteplea1]Jerauld County States Attorney Casey Bridgeman read the factual basis statement in which South Dakota Highway Patrol Trooper Michael Peterson pulled Witte over for speeding outside of Alpena on December 10th of last year….
[audio:http://prprt.itmwpb.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/688/2011/08/witteplea2.mp3|titles=witteplea2]Bridgeman agreed a suspended imposition of sentence was appropriate…
[audio:http://prprt.itmwpb.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/688/2011/08/witteplea3.mp3|titles=witteplea3]Dailey tried to explain why the work permit was not issued…
[audio:http://prprt.itmwpb.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/688/2011/08/witteplea4.mp3|titles=witteplea4]Dailey told Gienapp Witte was driving during the day and was driving for his job at the time. Dailey had harsh words for the media’s coverage of the case…
[audio:http://prprt.itmwpb.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/688/2011/08/witteplea5.mp3|titles=witteplea5]Witte was present in the courtroom during the change of plea and sentencing. In addition to the suspended imposition of sentence, Witte must pay a 500 dollar fine due by 5 PM Friday and be a law abiding citizen for 60 days. The hearing was held over the I-TV network in Brookings and Mitchell.