JASON WADDELL
On Monday morning, Jason Waddell, 46, of Yankton was sentenced to one year in prison charges of Operating a Motor Vehicle to Avoid Arrest and Child Abuse. Waddell will serve those sentences consecutively to a 5 to 7 year prison term he received last week in Wayne County that all started last September 20th on Hwy 275 west of Pilger. It was at that time that Waddell was observed speeding by the Stanton County Sheriff’s office at 118 mph in the 65 mph zone and he then fled after an attempt to stop him was made. He continued at more than 100 mph on Hwy 275 before turning north on a county road and fled at high speeds before crashing his car on the Stanton/Wayne County line and fleeing into a corn field. During this time, it was discovered he abandoned his six year old son who had been a passenger and was located walking out of the corn field by himself. An exhaustive search for Waddell by the Stanton and Wayne County Sheriff’s office, even using a drone was fruitless. About two hours later Waddell stole a pickup from a Wayne County residence and fled the area. He was later observed in the pickup near the county line and then fled on foot into a bean field. After about an hour of searching for him on foot and using a Stanton County drone, Waddell was found hiding in the bean field and refused efforts to surrender. He was then bitten by an NSP canine in the groin and arrested by members of the Stanton and Wayne County Sheriff’s office and NSP. He required hospitalization for his dog bites and was then jailed until his sentencing. Waddell also had his drivers license revoked for two years after his release from prison.
STEVEN SVATOS
Sentenced to prison for a term of three to five years for being a felon in possession of a firearm and sixty days consecutive for DWI was Steven Svatos, 48, formerly of Stanton. Svatos was arrested last July following an incident in Stanton where he was driving a 4 wheeler drunk and nearly struck Sheriff Mike Unger who was on foot and was forced to jump out of the way as he tried to stop Svatos. Svatos was later contacted and arrested for Driving While Intoxicated. Svatos was further charged with Possession of a Firearm by a prohibited person after the service of a search warrant by the Sheriff’s office later that same night at his Stanton residence. A loaded firearm was found hidden behind a dresser along with other ammunition for the firearm.
CRAIG MCNEILL
Craig McNeill, 54, of Tulsa, Oklahoma was sentenced to one year of probation and ninety days in jail following his conviction for felony Possession of Methamphetamine. He was arrested with a co-defendant last July by the Sheriff’s office on Hwy 57 north of Stanton. His co-codefendant is currently in jail in Oklahoma after his arrest on a Stanton County arrest warrant for failing to appear on his felony charges in Stanton County.
TIMMY LORTZ
Timmy Lortz, 36, Norfolk was sentenced to two years of probation and 30 days in jail along with a $1350.00 in fines and his drivers license was revoked for six years following his conviction for third offense DWI and Possession of Marijuana and Speeding. He was arrested last fall on Hwy 275 near Norfolk after being stopped for speeding and found to intoxicated and in possession of marijuana. He was originally charged with a felony DWI that was later reduced as part of a plea agreement.
SANDRA JOHNSON
Sentenced to 30 days in jail each on charges of Aiding and Abetting Theft and Criminal Trespass was Sandra Johnson, 57, of Norfolk following her conviction for Aiding and Abetting Theft and Criminal Trespass. She was originally arrested for Burglary by the Sheriff’s office last fall following the break-in of a residence in Stanton and unlawful taking of property. A Co-defendant was already given a jail sentence for his involvement in the theft case.
