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Press Release

Watauga Man Indicted for Larceny

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of South Dakota

United States Attorney Dennis Holmes announced that a Watauga, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Larceny.

Arlen Eugene Kern, age 57, was indicted on December 14, 2021.  He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on March 1, 2022, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.

The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to five years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.  Restitution may also be ordered.

The Indictment alleges that between April 2018 and June 2020, in McIntosh, South Dakota, Kern stole over $1,000 in United States currency and tangible goods from his place of employment.

The charge is merely an accusation and Kern is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. 

The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Corson County Sheriff’s Office.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook is prosecuting the case.   

Kern was released on bond pending trial.  A trial date has not been set.

Updated March 3, 2022