The domestic abuse case against former Black Hills area TV news anchor and Neal Tapio campaign staffer Shad Olson appears to be winding to a close almost a year to the day after allegations first arose from his girlfriend who had called police:
If you recall when the arrest was first made, according to the Sioux Falls Argus Leader:
Olson, 51, was arrested last Sunday after an alleged altercation two days prior in Rapid City, where he “slammed” his girlfriend down on the ground multiple times and chased her around the house, a probable cause affidavit states.
Olson previously served as campaign counsel to Tapio, a Republican candidate who lost to U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson and then-Secretary of State Shantel Krebs in a bid to win the incumbent congressman’s district during the state’s 2018 House of Representative’s election.
and..
The report continues that Olson then “flipped her over and picked her up and threw [her] down on the floor” four or five times.
The victim expressed she felt lucky she was thrown on a carpeted floor, because the alleged assault did not leave her with broken bones.
Olson was charged with felony assault charges, and which left him unable to bond out of jail and petitioning for a court-appointed attorney on the basis of his inability to afford counsel. Until Olson was bailed out of jail on a $5000 cash bond by former District 34 State Legislative candidate Jodi Frye at the end of February.
Moving forward, in November of 2024 in a surprise move the Meade County State’s Attorney dropped the felony charges, leaving the former TV anchor facing two class 1 misdemeanor assault charges.
Olson had requested a jury trial on the misdemeanor charges which had been set for February 6th, however according to court records the hearing that was supposed to happen last week has now been changed to a Change of Plea/Sentencing hearing at the defendant’s request, set to take place on March 13th:
Set your calendars ahead to March 13th, which also happens to be the last day of the regular run of the legislative session.
I get that we don’t want to fill up our prisons. However, doesn’t it seem like a lot of prosecutors just roll over? They drop charges, lessen charges, and then cut deals to avoid having to go to trial. I really think that a lot of prosecutors don’t like going to trial — it’s a lot of time and work, and of course there is risk of losing as well. Reminds me of the Koskan ‘deal’ that was made before the public heard all the details of that case. In this case, we’ve heard a bunch of the details, but then after many months the charges are lessened, and now it would seem there’s only a misdemeanor to plea to — wonder what the deal is here?
I’d be willing to bet that the victim elided not to testify.
*decided. Sorry.