Sioux Falls Man Sentenced to Five Years for Watertown Meth Possession Case

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - A Sioux Falls man has been sentenced to five years in the South Dakota State Penitentiary following a felony drug conviction stemming from an April 13 traffic stop in Watertown, according to court records.

Bryce Iyen Selwyn, 33, pleaded guilty on July 1 to possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), a Class 5 felony under SDCL 22‑42‑5. The conviction originated from a Codington County grand jury indictment filed April 23, which stated Selwyn “did knowingly possess methamphetamine, a Schedule I or II drug or substance” and was returned as “A TRUE BILL” with the concurrence of at least six grand jurors. Watertown Police Officer John Waldner testified before the grand jury.

Traffic Stop Led to Felony Charge

The indictment followed a late‑night traffic stop on April 13, 2026, near 9th Avenue SE and the Highway 212 ramp, where Selwyn was driving a 2008 GMC Envoy. According to the sworn complaint filed April 14, officers alleged Selwyn failed to stop at a stop sign and was found in possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.

Initial misdemeanor charges included:

·         Driving with a suspended license

·         Failure to maintain financial responsibility

·         Possession of drug paraphernalia

·         Failure to stop at a stop sign

Court records show that on April 23, prosecutors dismissed all four misdemeanor counts. The paraphernalia and stop‑sign violations were dismissed the same day, and the suspended‑license and financial‑responsibility charges were also dismissed by prosecutorial motion.

A second possession charge tied to the traffic citation was recharged by indictment, consolidating the case under the felony count.

The State filed a habitual offender enhancement on April 24 under SDCL 22‑7‑7, alleging one or two prior felonies. On July 1—the same day Selwyn entered his guilty plea—the enhancement was dismissed by prosecutorial motion, removing the possibility of an increased penalty.

Five‑Year Sentence Imposed

Selwyn was sentenced on July 21, 2026. The court ordered:

·         Five years in the South Dakota State Penitentiary

·         Two years suspended

·         Six days credit for time served

·         $116.50 in court costs and state fees

·         Sentence to run concurrently with case 66CRI26‑04

Selwyn was remanded to begin serving his sentence the same day.

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