Watertown Man Sentenced to Eight Years in State Pen for Sixth‑Offense DUI
- Steve Jurrens
- Jun 5
- 1 min read
Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - A Watertown man with a decades‑long history of impaired‑driving offenses has been sentenced to eight years in the South Dakota State Penitentiary, with two years suspended, following his conviction for a sixth‑offense DUI.
Timothy O’Kieth Kelly, 67, was sentenced this week by Judge Means after previously entering a guilty plea to Driving Under the Influence – Blood Alcohol Content, enhanced to a Class 4 felony due to his extensive DUI record.
Kelly was arrested on February 22, 2026, after an off‑duty Codington County deputy witnessed his blue 2003 Jeep Liberty run a stop sign at 9th Avenue SW and 21st Street SW and slide into a ditch. According to the probable cause statement, Kelly was unsteady on his feet, smelled strongly of alcohol, and was too impaired to complete field sobriety tests.
A preliminary breath test at the scene registered .261% BrAC, and a later blood test confirmed a .283 BAC, more than three times the legal limit.
Court records show Kelly has prior DUI convictions dating back to 2002, including convictions in 2002, 2004, 2008, 2021, and 2024, qualifying this case as his sixth DUI in 25 years.
Jennifer Nelson of Nelson & Ericsson Law Office represented Kelly.
He was immediately remanded to state custody to begin serving his sentence.
