Watertown Woman Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison w/ 11 Suspended in Domestic Stabbing Case After Plea Deal

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - A Watertown woman originally facing attempted murder charges for stabbing her fiancé in the chest earlier this year has been sentenced to prison after striking a plea deal with prosecutors.

Melody Lane Harless, 28, officially began her sentence at the South Dakota State Penitentiary on Wednesday, July 29, 2026. This follows a June 17 court date where a judgment was entered on her guilty plea to a Class F3 felony charge of Domestic Abuse Aggravated Assault - Serious Bodily Injury.

The court handed down a 15-year penitentiary sentence for Harless, but suspended 11 of those years, leaving an active prison term of four years. She was also credited for 198 days already served in custody prior to sentencing.

As part of the plea agreement, prosecutors formally dismissed the following charges that had been filed against Harless, including:

·         Attempted Second-Degree Murder (Class F2 Felony)

·         Habitual Offender - 1 or 2 Prior Felonies

Alongside her incarceration, Harless is required to fulfill several financial obligations ordered by the court:

·         Fines and Fees: A $500.00 fine, $50.00 in court costs, and $91.50 in surcharges.

·         Investigative Costs: Harless must reimburse the Attorney General’s office for the cost of a digital forensic examination conducted during the case.

Following her eventual release from the state penitentiary, Harless must abide by all rules and regulations established by the South Dakota Board of Pardons and Parole. Her financial payments will be maintained on a schedule determined by the board.

Case Background

The conviction resolves a violent domestic incident from January 2026 that left Harless’s fiancé, Justus Daryl Severtson, with a collapsed left lung.

According to earlier police narratives, the couple had been engaged for three years and were packing boxes in their living room when an argument broke out. Severtson told investigators that when he attempted to walk away from the confrontation, Harless picked up an 8-to-10-inch kitchen knife and stabbed him in the upper left side of his chest.

Following the stabbing, Harless drove Severtson to the emergency room at Prairie Lakes Hospital, drawing police attention after running two red lights at a high rate of speed. Medical staff had to immediately insert a chest tube to stabilize Severtson.

When Watertown Police located Harless later that afternoon at a separate residence, she initially claimed Severtson had been “stabbed by somebody” else and reportedly admitted to recent methamphetamine use before refusing further questioning. Original charges of Attempted First-Degree Murder were adjusted to Attempted Second-Degree Murder by grand jury indictment before ultimately being dismissed in favor of the aggravated assault plea.

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