Ex-Yankton Deputy Faces Felony Charges in South Dakota
Michael Rothschadl, 56, has resigned from his post in Georgia to surrender after a grand jury accused him of tampering with evidence in 2021.
By Layla Edwards ·
Georgia authorities confirmed on Sunday that a former South Dakota law enforcement officer is preparing to return to the state to face felony charges.
Michael Rothschadl, 56, was indicted by a Yankton County grand jury on October 26. The charges include one count of offering forged or fraudulent evidence, a Class 5 felony, and one count of falsification of evidence, a Class 6 felony. Prosecutors allege he knowingly submitted an altered written item as genuine and prepared false records for use in an official proceeding. The specific document or investigation is not named in the indictment.
The alleged offenses took place on or about April 1, 2021. Rothschadl ran for Yankton County Sheriff in the 2022 Republican primary but lost. Since October 2023, he has worked as a deputy sheriff in Carroll County, Georgia.
Major Craig Dodson of the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office said the department learned of the indictment from South Dakota prosecutors last week. Dodson stated that a pre-employment background check revealed no issues. He described Rothschadl as a good employee who has resigned to turn himself in.
Rothschadl is making arrangements to surrender to South Dakota law enforcement.
Source: Dakota News Now
