Tea Man Indicted for Concealing a Person from Arrest, Accessory after the Fact to Failure to Appear, and Providing a Firearm to a Prohibited Person

US Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that William Stegmeier, age 56, of Tea, South Dakota, was indicted by a federal grand jury on April 6, 2011, for concealing a person from arrest, accessory after the fact to failure to appear, and providing a firearm to a prohibited person. Stegmeier’s charges allege that he assisted and provided a firearm to Thomas R. Kelley after Kelley failed to appear for federal sentencing in August 2010.

Stegmeier appeared before US Magistrate Judge John E. Simko on April 12, 2011, and pled not guilty to the indictment. The maximum penalty upon conviction is five years of imprisonment on each of counts 1 and 2, and 10 years of imprisonment on the charge of providing a firearm to a prohibited person. The charges are merely accusations, and Stegmeier is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division. Assistant US Attorney Kevin Koliner is prosecuting the case.
Stegmeier was released on bond pending trial. A trial date has not yet been set.