NESD Radio News UPDATE: Two Watertown Residents Face Aggravated Assault and Multiple Child Abuse Felonies; Court Filings Reveal New Allegations

Northeast Radio SD News - Watertown, SD - Felony charges against Davon Scott Walton and Taylor Ann Merkel have been updated with newly filed court documents revealing multiple felony counts and allegations spanning six months, according to court records filed on October 30, 2025, in Codington County.

Both Walton and Merkel remain incarcerated at the Codington County Detention Center, with Merkel on a $25,000 cash-only bond and Walton on a $50,000 bond.

The detailed Complaints and Affidavits outline new allegations, including charges against Walton for assaulting Merkel, and a witness tampering charge against Merkel based on her communication following the investigation's start.

Davon Scott Walton: Multiple Felonies, Two Minor Victims

Davon Scott Walton, 25, is now charged with six counts, including three Class 3 Felonies, with the alleged offenses involving two separate minor victims and Merkel:

· Aggravated Assault Domestic – Extreme Indifference (Class 3 Felony, occurring between October 17–22, 2025) for allegedly attempting to cause serious bodily injury to the minor

· Aggravated Assault – Dangerous Weapon (Class 3 Felony, dated June 20, 2025) against Taylor Ann Merkel (AKA Taylor Ann Ronke).

· Child Abuse (Victim Less than Seven Years) (Class 3 Felony, occurring between April 19–20, 2025), specifying the abuse or cruelty of the minor

· Two counts of Child Abuse (Victim Greater than Seven Years) (Class 4 Felonies), involving C.M. on October 14, 2025, and again between October 17–22, 2025.

· Obstructing an Officer (Class 1 Misdemeanor, dated October 24, 2025).

· Walton also faces four counts of Violation of Conditional Bond stemming from alleged contact with Merkel after his initial release.

Taylor Ann Merkel: Witness Tampering and Exposing Abuse

Taylor Ann Merkel, 31, is facing four felony charges, with court documents detailing specific allegations of her conduct during the investigation.

·         Tampering With a Witness (Class 4 Felony, dated October 24, 2025).

·         Child Abuse (Victim Less than Seven Years) (Class 3 Felony, occurring between April 19–20, 2025).

·         Two counts of Child Abuse (Victim Greater than Seven Years) (Class 4 Felonies).

The Affidavit in Support of Arrest Warrant alleges that Merkel knew of the abuse for several weeks, with phone searches indicating her awareness before reporting the injury. It further alleges that Merkel warned Walton about the investigation and attempted to contact the minor’s biological father to "get on the same page" in an effort to "fabricate a story" to have charges against Walton dropped. The document also notes Merkel's prior protection order paperwork, in which she stated Walton had "threatened to smash in her child's head".

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The State's Attorney's Office states that Merkel's Child Abuse charge is based on the allegation that she exposed the minor to the abuse at the hands of Walton and continued to attempt to influence witnesses to downplay the incident.

Upcoming Court Proceedings

Both defendants have upcoming court dates in Codington County:

·         Taylor Ann Merkel's Preliminary Hearing is scheduled for Friday, November 7, 2025, at 9:30 AM.

·         Davon Scott Walton's Preliminary Hearing is scheduled for Friday, November 14, 2025, at 9:30 AM.

The Codington County State's Attorney's Office is prosecuting the cases.

If you are someone you know who is affected by domestic violence or abuse, you can reach out locally to the Beacon Center: Domestic and Sexual Violence Crisis Center | Watertown