Two South Dakota ranchers were sentenced to jail after being convicted of mistreating cattle and attempting to sell animals they did not own, according to South Dakota News Watch.
Leland Pauly and Lynda Frost were taken directly from the courtroom to begin serving 15-day jail terms following their conviction on livestock-related fraud and neglect charges in South Dakota and Nebraska. The case began when rancher Dan Schilling of Wessington, SD, discovered his cattle, entrusted to Pauly and Frost, in poor condition and filed a complaint in March 2024. Prosecutors linked the mistreatment to financial struggles, including the pair’s bankruptcy.
Bennett County State’s Attorney Sarah E. Harris said the jail time should serve as a warning to others who mistreat animals or commit fraud.
