Clark, SD, Man Eric Stormo Sentenced to 6 Years in Prison in Codington County Meth Case

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - A 32-year-old Clark man has been sentenced to the South Dakota State Penitentiary following his eighth drug-related felony conviction in Codington County Circuit Court.

Third Judicial Circuit Judge Dawn Elshere sentenced Eric Gregory Stormo, of Clark, on Oct. 21, 2026, to 10 years in the state penitentiary in Sioux Falls, with four years suspended. Stormo received credit for 109 days previously served in the Codington County Detention Center.

Plea Agreement and Habitual Offender Enhancement

Stormo was arraigned and entered a change of plea on Sept. 23, 2026. Pursuant to a plea agreement between Codington County State's Attorney Alison Trauba and court-appointed defense attorney Amanda M. Thole, Stormo pleaded guilty to Count II of the indictment, possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), originally charged as a Class 5 felony.

Stormo also admitted to a Part II habitual offender information for having three or more prior felony convictions, which subjected him to Level 2 penalty enhancements and elevated the conviction to a Class 3 felony in open court. Under the plea agreement, the state agreed not to request more than seven years of actual prison time.

In the judgment of conviction, Judge Elshere noted several aggravating factors on the record:

·         Stormo was on parole at the time he committed the offense.

·         Stormo has an extensive criminal history, with this conviction marking his eighth felony conviction, all of which have been drug-related.

·         The court determined Stormo is a serious danger to the public.

Sentencing Conditions and Financial Obligations

To have four years of his 10-year prison sentence suspended, Stormo must comply with several court-ordered conditions:

·         Pay $50 in court costs and $66.50 in statutory surcharges.

·         Pay $95 to the Attorney General's Digital Forensic Fund for the cost of a digital forensic examination.

·         Reimburse Codington County for the cost of his court-appointed attorney, with the county holding a lien against him for that amount.

·         Abide by all rules and regulations set forth by the South Dakota Department of Corrections and the South Dakota Board of Pardons and Parole, and make payments on all ordered amounts following his release on a schedule determined by the board.

Case History and Dismissed Charges

The case originated from an incident involving the Codington County Sheriff's Office on July 3 and July 4, 2026. Deputy Jerrod Olson issued uniform complaint summonses on July 4, 2026, at 5:50 a.m. at 1216 423rd Ave. SW and at 6:01 a.m. at 410 First St.

Following an initial five-count criminal complaint filed on July 7, 2026, a Codington County grand jury heard testimony from Olson and returned a four-count indictment on July 9, 2026. A Class 2 misdemeanor charge of possession of drug paraphernalia from the original complaint was dismissed on a motion by the prosecutor on July 9, 2026.

As part of the Sept. 23, 2026, plea agreement, the prosecution dismissed the remaining three counts from the indictment:

·         Count I: Abuse or cruelty to a minor under age seven, a Class 3 felony.

·         Count III: Possession of two ounces of marijuana or less, a Class 1 misdemeanor.

·         Count IV: Contributing to the abuse, neglect, or delinquency of a minor, a Class 1 misdemeanor.