Former Mobridge Pastor Charged with Sexual Contact

By Scott Waltman
Aberdeen News
September 11, 2014

http://www.aberdeennews.com/news/local/former-mobridge-pastor-charged-with-sexual-contact/article_f134bc3d-6295-5796-a222-db5bee9a5664.html

A former Mobridge pastor has been charged in Walworth County with a felony count of sexual contact with a minor.

The charge against Timothy Thompson, 38, who now lives in Colorado, stems from incidents in 2008, according to court paperwork.

Thompson was the pastor at Cornerstone Community Church in Mobridge from March 2008 through February 2013, when he moved to Denver, according to the Mobridge Tribune. The Tribune reports that the victim is now an adult and that Thompson was arrested in Denver late last month and extradited to Walworth County for a Sept. 2 court hearing at which he was granted a court-appointed attorney but did not enter a plea.

He's scheduled to be arraigned Sept. 22.

Other Brown County court news

• James J. Larson, 36, of Slayton, Minn., admitted he violated the terms of his probation. He was on probation because of previous felony possession of cocaine and misdemeanor impaired driving convictions. According to court paperwork, he broke probation rules by testing positive for methamphetamine and marijuana and missing a court hearing. For breaking probation rules, he was sentenced to six years in prison with four years suspended. He was given credit for 88 days served and must pay any outstanding fines and fees. His suspended imposition of sentence was revoked. That would have kept the underlying charges from his record.

• Matthew R. Brewer, 19, of Aberdeen, admitted he violated the terms of his probation. He was on probation after pleading guilty to possession of methamphetamine, a felony. According to court paperwork, he broke probation rules by testing positive for meth and marijuana and failing to finish corrective-thinking classes. For breaking probation rules, he was sentenced to 60 days in prison with 30 days suspended. His two-year probation term was reinstated, and he must complete the corrective-thinking class, continue with aftercare and pay any outstanding fines and fees. He was allowed to keep his suspended imposition of sentence. That means the meth charge won't go on his record if he follows probation rules.

• Kyle E. Blubaugh, 26, who has Aberdeen and Flandreau addresses listed in court paperwork, pleaded guilty to a felony count of ingesting methamphetamine and, in an unrelated file, domestic simple assault, a misdemeanor.

On the meth charge, a five-year prison term was suspended, and he was sentenced to 30 days in jail and two years of probation. He also must pay $198 in testing costs and a $604 fine. He must adhere to any recommendations resulting from a chemical dependency evaluation. On the simple assault count, a 60-day jail term was suspended, and he was placed on probation for a year and fined $260. He may not have contact with the victim.

• Galen L. Thompson, 41, of Aberdeen, admitted he violated the terms of his probation. He was on probation after pleading guilty to failing to properly register his address as is required of a sex offender. According to court paperwork, he broke probation rules by testing positive for marijuana and driving while impaired. His two-year prison term was reimposed, and he must continue with aftercare. He was previously convicted of sexual contact with a minor, a felony.

• In Day County, Levi A. Locke, 23, of Waubay, pleaded guilty to felony escape. He was sentenced to five years in prison and fined $104.

• In Day County, Tawnya Kinn, 34, of Webster, pleaded guilty to felony counts of ingesting a controlled substance. A five-year prison term was suspended, and she was sentenced to three years of probation. She must pay a $649 fine, $45 in testing costs and $321 in restitution on a Condington County charge on which she's already served jail time, according to court paperwork. She also must continue with aftercare.

• In Day County, Rex A. Swanson, 19, of Aberdeen, pleaded guilty to grand theft, a felony. A five-year prison term was suspended, but he must spend 90 days in jail and pay a $604 fine. He also must make restitution.

• In Marshall County, Jeffrey H. Thayer, 52, of Britton, pleaded guilty of ingesting a controlled substance, a felony. He was sentenced to five years in prison with two and a half years suspended and fined $104. In exchange for his guilty plea, several other charges were dismissed.

• In Walworth County, Nicole M. Poland, 26, of Mobridge, pleaded guilty to a felony count of ingesting a controlled substance. She was sentenced to 30 days in jail and fined $1,104. In exchange for her guilty plea, other charges were dismissed. She was granted a suspended imposition.