RAPID CITY, SD – A Pennington County jury has found 33-year-old David Poor Bear guilty on 8 charges, including second-degree rape, kidnapping, child abuse, and other serious offenses. The verdict came late Friday night after a four-day trial and more than six hours of jury deliberation.
The charges stem from a violent incident that occurred in Box Elder, during which Poor Bear held an adult woman and her daughter captive for more than a day and a half. Testimony revealed that the adult victim was zip-tied, raped, beaten with a sock filled with nails and a chain, and repeatedly threatened with death. The child, who was present during the assaults and also threatened, bravely testified during the trial.
The victim was unable to call for help after Poor Bear broke her phone. She was finally able to seek help after he left for work, at which point she contacted a friend who notified law enforcement.
During closing arguments, prosecutors pointed to not only the credible testimony of the victims, but also a wide array of corroborating evidence: weapons recovered from the scene, photographs of visible injuries, incriminating jail phone calls, and testimony from two additional women who described experiencing similar abuse at the hands of the defendant.
The jury returned guilty verdicts on the following charges:
* Two counts of Second-Degree Rape
* One count of Kidnapping
* One count of Child Abuse
* Two counts of Criminal Solicitation
* One count of Simple Assault
* One count of Intentional Damage to Property
“This verdict reflects the strength and bravery of the victims, and the diligence of the jury who gave this case the attention it deserved,” said Senior Deputy State’s Attorney Rachel Lindsay. “We are grateful for their time and commitment to justice.”
The case was prosecuted by Senior Deputy State’s Attorneys Rachel Lindsay and Jason Thomas.
Media inquiries should be directed to Public Information Officer Katy Urban at (605) 390-1182.
Under the direction of State’s Attorney Lara Roetzel, the Pennington County State’s Attorney’s Office prosecutes approximately 8,000 misdemeanor and felony cases annually for the county’s 114,000 residents. Additionally, our Civil Division handles diverse legal matters, including general litigation, appeals, mental health commitments, abuse and neglect cases, drug and alcohol commitments, and more. With a staff of 70+, the office is dedicated to crime prevention, public education, and ensuring the safety of Pennington County residents.
