Aberdeen man given chance to keep attempted robbery from record

Nov. 16--An Aberdeen man who showed a fake gun stuck into the waistband of his pants to a worker when he entered a convenience store has been given a chance to keep an attempted robbery charge from his record.

Taylor E. Hopfinger, 19, pleaded guilty to the charge and was sentenced to 90 days in jail and three years on probation.

On Aug. 19, he walked into South C Store, 1020 S. Main St., wearing a wig, backpack and pair of white-rimmed glasses, an employee said at the time. Hopfinger lifted up his shirt so a worker could see the fake gun, then fled, said Chris White, chief deputy state's attorney for Brown County. Nobody was hurt, and Hopfinger didn't get any money.

Hopfinger was granted a suspended imposition of sentence. That means the incident won't go on his record if he follows probation rules. He was fined $1,104 and given credit for two days served.

In other court news:

--Jesse L. Feickert, 30, of Mellette pleaded guilty to a third drunken driving charge in a 10-year span, a felony. He was sentenced to two years in prison and fined $104. According to court paperwork, his blood alcohol level was 0.23. The legal limit is 0.08. He must pay $85 in testing costs and was given credit for 34 days.

The guilty plea was also a violation of his probation terms stemming from a previous conviction for possession of 1 to 10 pounds of marijuana, a felony. For breaking probation rules, he was sentenced to four years in prison. His prison terms will be served concurrently. He was given credit for 88 days served.

--Courtney A. Hammrich, 19, of Aberdeen pleaded guilty to grand theft by receiving stolen property, a felony. She must spend 45 days in jail and two years on probation. She was fined $1,104 and must pay $4,561 in restitution. The charge stems from items being stolen from businesses on Sept. 8 and 9, according to court paperwork. She was granted a suspended imposition.

--Bret Feickert, 34, of Aberdeen was given a two-year suspended prison term and sentenced to 45 days in jail after pleading guilty to possession of with intent to distribute less than an once of marijuana, a felony. He must spend two years on probation, pay a $504 fine and pay $100 in testing costs and buy money. He must also continue with aftercare and was given credit for 15 days.

--Kristi L. Lappegard, 26, of Aberdeen pleaded guilty to forgery, a felony. She was sentenced to 20 days in jail and six years on probation. She must make restitution and take financial planning and corrective thinking classes. She was granted a suspended imposition. In exchange for her guilty plea, other charges were dismissed.

--Jacob W. Riley, 24, of Aberdeen pleaded guilty to possession of 2 to 8 ounces of marijuana, a felony. He was sentenced to 45 days in jail and two years probation. He must continue with aftercare and pay $85 in testing costs and was given credit for 15 days. He was granted a suspended imposition. In exchange for his guilty plea, other charges were dismissed.

--Kari A. Hartwell, 36, of Aberdeen admitted she violated the terms of her probation. She was on probation because of a previous conviction for improperly obtaining a prescription painkiller, a felony, and broke probation rules by misuse of over-the-counter medications, according to court paperwork. She was sentenced to 26 days in jail and given credit for time served, and a three-year probation period was started over. She must pay any outstanding fines and fees and $45 in testing costs. She was given credit for time served and allowed to retain her suspended imposition.

--Alexander N. Walter, 23, of Aberdeen admitted he violated the terms of his probation. He was on probation as the result of a third drunken driving charge in 10 years, a felony, and broke probation rules by drinking alcohol, according to court paperwork. Sixty days in jail were suspended. He must serve the 45 days he was originally sentenced to, but 10 of those days were suspended and he was give credit for 15 more. He must spend three years on probation and pay any outstanding fines and fees. He was allowed to keep his suspended imposition.

--Keith L. Butterfield, 56, of Kimball pleaded guilty to a third drunken driving charge in a 10-year span, a felony. A two-year prison term was suspended, but he must spend 30 days in jail and two years on probation. He was also fined $804 and pay $84 in testing costs. He was given credit for three days and must continue with aftercare.

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