One of the members of the Mitchell Legion baseball team involved in a rape investigation has struck a plea deal with prosecutors.
The incident, alleged to have taken place in Pennington County, quickly became one of the most prominent court stories in the state.
Eighteen-year-old Lincoln Bates accepted the deal which will see him plea guilty to accessory to a felony crime, according to court documents. That’s punishable by up to five years in prison.
In turn, Bates is also agreeing to testify in any upcoming hearings connected to the alleged June 2023 incident.
This is the first deal cut among the accused team members. The five remaining defendants, all teenagers, face felony charges that could result in as much as 50 years in prison. They have all pleaded not guilty.
