By Mondell Keck | The Brookings Register
BROOKINGS — The Brookings area is a pretty safe place to live thanks to its conscientious residents and law enforcers, but that doesn’t mean there’s no crime whatsoever.
“Felony drugs continue to be the primary felony offense in Brookings County, driven largely by methamphetamine,” Brookings County State’s Attorney Dan Nelson told county commissioners at their Feb. 3 meeting. “I continue to work very aggressively with our law enforcement agencies — sheriff’s office, Brookings Police Department (and) DCI — to target drug dealers … specifically those that are dealing drugs or possessing with the intent to distribute those drugs in drug-free zones.”
Brookings County State’s Attorney Dan Nelson
The information was part of his annual report on statistics in the county for the previous year — in this case, 2025.
Nelson noted that drug distribution convictions in Brookings County last year — 11 in all — were slightly higher than in the previous four years.
“When you look at these statistics, I would just tell everyone that it isn’t so much that we have more drug dealing in Brookings County compared to previous years,” he said. “It’s more about sort of, collectively, as law enforcement agencies, trying to focus our efforts to try to identify those individuals, trying to get confidential informants to work with us to target those dealers. And so, what you see here from last year is sort of a result of those efforts.”
Other drug-related convictions last year included:
• Drug-free zones: Four, up from one in 2024
• Marijuana possession as a felony: One, down from two in 2024
• Unauthorized possession of a controlled substance: 24, up from nine in 2024
• Unauthorized ingestion of a controlled substance: Six, down from 15 in 2024
Beyond drugs, alcohol also continues to bedevil some residents, with Nelson saying drunken driving is concerning.
“Felony DUIs obviously continue to be a problem here in Brookings County,” he said. “I don’t think we’re unique in that regard. I think, unfortunately, drinking and driving is an ongoing issue here in South Dakota.”
Nelson’s report showed 24 total convictions for third, fourth and fifth DUI offenses. Furthermore, he pointed out that the state is the worst in the nation, on a per capita basis, for drunken driving.
On top of that, he discussed other DUI-related convictions; specifically, those from a person’s first conviction to an eighth conviction.
“During COVID, we actually saw a 25% increase in the amount of DUIs; unfortunately, that 25% has sort of sustained itself here in Brookings County,” Nelson said. “That’s consistent across the state as well. We don’t have the 2019, 2020 numbers up here, but you would see a pretty significant uptick beginning in 2020 — so, for whatever reason, more people just drinking and driving.”
There were 221 such convictions last year; 238 in 2024; 269 in 2023; 276 in 2022; and 310 in 2021.
Other tidbits of information regarding felony convictions last year in the county include:
• Abuse or cruelty to a minor: Seven, down from eight in 2024
• Aggravated assault: Six, up from three in 2024
• First-degree burglary: Three, up from one in 2024
• Aggravated grand theft/grand theft: 15, up from 12 in 2024
• Identity theft: Six, up from zero in 2024
• Rape/sexual contact/attempted/incest: Six, up from one in 2024
• Simple assault on a law enforcement officer: Eight, up from three in 2024
Overall, Nelson’s office had 158 felony convictions last year, compared to 104 in 2024; 129 in 2023; 128 in 2022; and 135 in 2021.
Class 1 misdemeanor convictions
Nelson noted that DUIs continue to be the biggest issue with Class 1 misdemeanors, with 197 convictions in 2025. Still, that number is a bit of decrease from previous years:
• 227 convictions in 2024
• 242 convictions in 2023
• 258 convictions in 2022
• 282 convictions in 2021
Beyond the DUI total, “nothing jumps out too much that’s concerning or different from previous years,” Nelson noted.
Overall totals were 499 convictions last year; 509 in 2024; 505 in 2023, 535 in 2022; and 532 in 2021.
Class 2 misdemeanor convictions
Switching tracks, Nelson said Class 2 misdemeanor problems in Brookings County are primarily traffic offenses, with some shoplifting cases as well.
“Walmart continues to be the primary victim of shoplifting here in Brookings County. It has been for many years,” he said. “We, I think, do a good job of helping Walmart out in trying to catch those shoplifters and hold them accountable for that.”
Overall totals were 460 last year; 503 in 2024; 434 in 2023; 397 in 2022; and 371 in 2021.
Domestic convictions
Nelson then discussed convictions in domestic-related aggravated assault, simple assault and disorderly conduct cases.
“Domestic violence in South Dakota is just defined as those that are in a romantic relationship or reside together,” he explained. “So, you can have either father/son, mother/daughter, vice-versa, or you can have … in the more traditional sense, spousal, boyfriend/girlfriend — that’s how we define domestic violence. And so, when you see these types of convictions, it arises out of those types of familiar relationships.”
Some numbers from this category include:
• Aggravated assault: Five, up from three in 2024
• Simple assault as a felony: Three, up from one in 2024
• Simple assault: 17, down from 20 in 2024
• Disorderly conduct: 11, up from three in 2024
Overall, Nelson’s office had 41 convictions last year; 35 in 2024; 25 in 2023; 53 in 2022; and 64 in 2021.
The full report, which also includes insights on juveniles and involuntary mental commitments, can be found on the Brookings County government’s website by clicking on the state’s attorney’s button, found under the “our departments” tab.
— Contact Mondell Keck at [email protected].
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