Second former lawman charged with stealing from police organization

Peace officers: Case against Brent Nelson not tied to earlier theft

By Ryan Woodard, Journal staff | Saturday, August 23, 2008

Previous Page

Share

• del.icio.us
• Digg
• NewsVine
• Fark

Print

Email

Another former local lawman has been charged with stealing from the Rapid City Peace Officers

Association.

Brent Layne Nelson, 45, is accused of grand theft by embezzlement for allegedly stealing about

$13,000 from the charitable organization between January 2006 and January 2008, according to a

probable cause affidavit filed by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation.

Grand theft by embezzlement is a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $20,000

fine.

Nelson, a former officer with the South Dakota Highway Patrol, is expected to plead guilty to the

charge, the state's top prosecutor said Friday.

Nelson did not return the Journal's calls on Friday seeking comment.

"He's been charged through a summons and a complaint," South Dakota Attorney General Larry

Long said. "The court will fix a court, date and we anticipate that he'll plead guilty at arraignment."

A date is pending on Nelson's initial court appearance. State officials in the affidavit accuse

Nelson of stealing money for "personal gain" while serving as the group's president. They say he

has admitted to using the organization's credit card for several "inappropriate transactions." He

paid for out-of-state motel rooms, gas for his personal vehicle and numerous items at Sam's Club,

the affidavit said.

At the time, he was a part-time city police officer at Rapid City Regional Airport. Police Chief

Steve Allender said Nelson was fired in March on suspicion of theft from the organization.

Nelson worked in the Rapid City district office of the South Dakota Highway Patrol from April

1984 to January 2002, Highway Patrol Maj. Randy Hartley said.

Hartley said Nelson worked in the auto theft unit of the Rapid City district until taking a similar

post with the South Dakota Department of Revenue.

Nelson recently resigned from the state agency, Long said. He said it was a "fair assumption"

that Nelson quit his job there because of the theft allegations.

An official with the Department of Revenue did not return a phone call Friday afternoon seeking

comment about Nelson's employment with the department.

The Peace Officers Association is a nonprofit group of active and retired law enforcement officers,

prosecuting attorneys and support staff from local, county, state and federal agencies.

The association supports local charities and civic organizations and assists individuals suffering a

variety of hardships. The group's income comes from membership dues, fundraisers and through

other groups paying for use of the association's meeting facility.

Long said the allegations against Nelson do not appear to be related to thefts from the

association by the group's former treasurer.

Former Rapid City policeman Chris Hansen got two years in the South Dakota State Penitentiary

for stealing about $29,000 from the organization.

Seventh Circuit Judge Merton Tice sentenced Hansen in July to 10 years in the state

penitentiary, suspending eight years as long as Hansen meets certain requirements, which

include full restitution and paying court costs.

Hansen paid the association a $25,000 settlement in a civil lawsuit, but Tice's verdict dictated

that Hansen will have to pay more if the association can prove he stole additional funds.

Pennington County Deputy State's Attorney Ken Varns said at the time of the sentencing that the

association was missing more money than had been accounted for.

Hansen will be eligible for parole in about six months.

Rapid City police officer Jim Hansen, the association's current president, declined to comment on

the pending case against Brent Nelson. Jim Hansen is not related to Chris Hansen.

Long said he does not expect to charge anyone else in connection with the cases.

Contact Ryan Woodard at 394-8412 or ryan.woodard@rapidcityjournal.com