South Dakota State Representative Travis Ismay of Newell has pleaded not guilty to a felony charge of intentionally damaging a highway.
Ismay was arraigned Wednesday morning at the Butte County Courthouse alongside his attorney. A judge scheduled a non-evidentiary motions hearing for August 27.
Prosecutors allege Ismay damaged Wilson Cemetery Road near his residence in early May. The county’s former highway supervisor estimated repairs to the road would cost about two thousand dollars.
Ismay was arrested on July 10 and released the same day after posting a 500-dollar bond.
Under South Dakota law, a Class 6 felony carries a maximum penalty of two years in prison and a four-thousand-dollar fine. If convicted and sentenced to prison, Ismay would be barred from holding public office. If only fined, he could remain eligible to serve.
Ismay, who won election to the District 28B House seat in June, declined to comment on the case.
