Watertown Man Sentenced to 20 Years for Third-Degree Rape of Intoxicated Minor

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - A Watertown man has been sentenced to two decades in the state penitentiary following his conviction for the rape of an intoxicated juvenile last fall.

On Wednesday, Judge Means sentenced 44-year-old Dustin Dolney to 20 years in the South Dakota State Penitentiary, with 8 years of the sentence suspended. The sentencing stems from an incident in September 2025 that prompted an emergency response from the Watertown Police Department.

The Investigation

According to court documents and law enforcement reports, officers initially responded to a scene where they found a “juvenile female lying on the ground, missing her pants.” Authorities noted that the minor was “extremely intoxicated” at the time of discovery.

Subsequent investigation revealed that Dolney had invited the juvenile to his apartment. Once there, the two consumed alcohol and engaged in sexual activity. Investigators discovered that during the encounter, Dolney recorded the minor, instructing her to state on camera that she was an adult.

Following the incident, as the minor left his residence, Dolney disposed of her clothing in a nearby dumpster, which officers later located and recovered as evidence.

Court Proceedings and Sentencing

Dolney, represented by defense attorney Tim Cummings, pleaded “Nolo Contendere” (no contest) to the charge of Rape in the 3rd Degree (incapable of consent due to intoxication or mind-altering substances), a Class 2 Felony. Several other initial charges, including manufacturing and possessing child pornography, were dismissed by the prosecutor prior to sentencing.

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Breakdown of the Sentence:

·         Incarceration: 20 years in the State Penitentiary (8 years suspended).

·         Time Served: Credit for 255 days already served in the Codington County Detention Center.

·         Conditions of Release: Mandatory registration as a sex offender upon release.

·         Fines and Fees: $211.50 total ($116.50 for felony court costs and state fines, plus $95.00 for the Digital Forensic Fund).