South Dakota Deputy Pleads Guilty to Grand Theft by Deception

A South Dakota sheriff’s deputy has pleaded guilty to one count of grand theft by deception for submitting fraudulent applications to an insurer.

The Mitchell Daily Republic reports that Rob Hotchkiss of Delmont entered his plea Wednesday. It relates to a 2008 incident in which he submitted fraudulent insurance applications to obtain commissions while working for a Sioux Falls insurance company in Sioux Falls.

Prosecutors dropped three additional grand theft by deception counts in exchange for his plea.

A sentencing date has not been set.

Hotchkiss faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in a state penitentiary and a $20,000 fine.