Watertown Man Sentenced to 10 Years in South Dakota Prison for Felony Drug Conviction
Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - Frederick Frank Grimes, 60, has been sentenced to 10 years in the state penitentiary with six years suspended after pleading guilty to a Class F4 felony drug charge.
According to court records finalized on July 29, 2026, Grimes entered a guilty plea on July 1, 2026, to one count of Manufacture, Distribution, or Possession of Schedule I or II Drugs.
On July 29, 2026, the court handed down a 10-year penitentiary sentence for the felony conviction, suspending six years of the term. Grimes was granted 63 days of credit for time already served, with the incarceration period formally beginning July 29.
In addition to his prison sentence, Grimes was ordered to pay financial penalties and specific state reimbursements:
· Fines and Fees: A $500.00 fine, $50.00 in court costs, and $66.50 in surcharges.
· Digital Forensic Examination Reimbursement: Grimes must reimburse the State Attorney General’s office for costs associated with a digital forensic examination conducted during the investigation.
· Drug Control Fund Reimbursement: Grimes was ordered to reimburse the State of South Dakota for any funds utilized from the state Drug Control Fund.
The conviction stems from a series of drug-related charges originally recharged by grand jury indictment on June 04, 2026. The initial indictment included multiple counts of Schedule I or II drug distribution and possession, keeping a place for the use or sale of controlled substances, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
As part of the proceedings on July 1, 2026, prosecutors moved to dismiss several remaining counts against Grimes, including:
· Two counts of Creating a Drug-Free Zone (Class F4 felonies)
· One count of Manufacture, Distribution, or Dispensing of a Controlled Substance with a 1-Year Mandatory Sentence (Class F4 felony)
· One count of Keeping a Place for Use or Sale of Controlled Substances (Class F5 felony)
One count of Possession of a Controlled Substance in Schedules I or II (Class F5 felony)
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