Six South Dakota baseball players, between the ages of 17 and 19, have been charged in connection with the rape of two minors, where one of their victims was a man.
Lincoln Bates, 18, Hudson Haley, 18, Carter Miller, 18, Landon Waddell, 19, Peyton Mandel, 17, and Karter Sibson, 17 are all charged after the attacks occurred while they were participating in a tournament between June 1 and 4.
Both victims were 16 years old at the time. The gender of the second victim is unknown.
The circumstances of the attack were originally described as a “team hazing ritual,” but Pennington County State’s Attorney Lara Roetzel dismissed the idea, instead calling it a “violent attack.”
The former Mitchell Legion teammates pleaded ‘not guilty’ during their first court appearance on Tuesday.
Hudson Haley, 18, was charged with two counts of second-degree rape and one count of aiding and abetting second-degree rape
Landon Waddell, 19, was charged with one count of rape in the second degree and two counts of aiding and abetting rape in the second degree
Bates and Waddell graduated from Mitchell High School, where they played on the Legions baseball team. The four other defendants are still students.
They are each charged with second-degree rape and aiding and abetting second-degree rape.
Haley faces an additional charge of rape for a second victim, while Waddell faced two counts of aiding and abetting for two separate victims.
The charges are Class 1 felonies, punishable by up to 50 years in prison and/or a $50,000 fine.
This means Haley and Waddell each face up to 150 years.
Although Mandel and Sibson – the 17-year-olds – are minors, they are being tried as adults due to South Dakota law and the severity of the crime.
In June, the Mitchell Baseball Association suspended team activities amid allegations of player misconduct.
Lincoln Bates, 18, was charged with second-degree rape and aiding and abetting second-degree rape
Carter Miller, 18, was charged with second-degree rape and aiding and abetting second-degree rape
In court, Peyton Mandel’s lawyer asked the judge if his client could go to school and school activities.
Seventeen-year-old Mandel goes to the same school as one of the alleged victims.
He is allowed to attend school, but must remain 30 feet away from the victim and can participate in other activities – Mandel is also a member of the Kernel Boys Basketball team – as long as the victim is not involved.
At school events he must remain 30 meters away from the victim at all times.
Waddell requested a modification of his bond, which was granted, allowing him to travel with his family over the holidays.
Peyton Mandel, 17, was charged with second-degree rape and aiding and abetting second-degree rape. He will be tried as an adult
Karter Sibson, 17, was charged with second-degree rape and aiding and abetting second-degree rape. He will be tried as an adult
The Pennington County State’s Attorney reiterated that additional charges may lie ahead for adults involved in the team who knew about the crimes and failed to report them.
The possibility that others could be charged was introduced back in August.
Second-degree rape and aiding and abetting rape are Class 1 felonies, punishable by up to 50 years in prison and/or a $50,000 fine.
All defendants have been released on bail.
A status hearing is scheduled for Feb. 6 at 2:30 p.m.