SD tribal official pleads not guilty to felonies

FORT THOMPSON, S.D. (AP) – A Crow Creek tribal council and school board member accused of hiding information from authorities during a bribery investigation has pleaded not guilty to felony charges.

Fifty-eight-year-old Loren “Rocky” Fallis of Fort Thompson is to stand trial in March on charges of misprision of a felony and making a false statement. He could face up to eight years in prison if convicted.

The Daily Republic newspaper reports that Fallis’ case is intertwined with those of other tribal officials who have been found guilty of bribery or conspiracy charges, including former Tribal Chairman Duane Big Eagle. He’s serving three years in prison for a scheme in which authorities say tribal officials were rewarded for giving contracts to construction companies for buildings at the tribe’s central South Dakota school. He’s appealing.

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Information from: The Daily Republic, http://www.mitchellrepublic.com