Pierre Woman Pleads Not Guilty In Grand Theft Embezzlement Case

FORT PIERRE, (KCCR) — A Pierre woman has entered a not guilty plea to a Grand Theft charge alleging she embezzled over 45-thousand dollars from the Community and Youth Involved Center in Fort Pierre. Arraignment for 45 year-old Dusti Deal was held Wednesday afternoon at the Stanley County Courthouse. Deal responded to Sixth Circuit Judge Bridgette Mayer’s questions with simple yes and no your honor responses. According to a probable cause affidavit on file in Stanley County, Division of Criminal Investigation Special Agent Charles Swanson reviewed financial transcripts from the Community and Youth Involved Center in Fort Pierre. Swanson’s review highlighted multiple suspicious transactions made with a business debit card controlled by Deal from January of 2022 to December of 2024. Swanson’s investigation found over 45-thousand dollars connected to the unauthorized charges. Deal admitted to the purchase in a May 8th interview with Swanson and admitted to not intending to pay the money back. Deal was arrested, but released on a five-thousand dollar bond. The maximum penalty for Grand Theft by Embezzlement is 10 years in prison and/or a 20-thousand dollar fine, a Class Four felony. A status hearing in the case is tentatively scheduled for October 29th.