BROOKINGS – A Brookings man who pleaded no contest to first-degree rape in June has been sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Daniel Kramer, 33, pleaded no contest to the charge in Brookings County Circuit Court June 5.
Brookings County State’s Attorney Teree Nesvold said Kramer raped a 2-year-old girl between Nov. 9-16, 2016, and that DNA evidence was found on the victim.
A Brookings County grand jury indicted Kramer on April 13, 2017.
A no contest plea means the defendant is convicted of a crime but does not admit guilt.
First-degree rape, with a victim younger than 13 years old, is a Class C felony punishable by up to life in prison and a $50,000 fine. It also carries a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison.
Circuit Judge Greg Stoltenburg said in June that he agreed to go along with a plea agreement worked out between the prosecutor and defense to cap Kramer’s sentence at 15 years in prison.
No additional comments were offered by the prosecutor or defense at sentencing Tuesday, except for defense attorney Jared Gass requesting that Stoltenburg adopt the 15-year sentence.
The judge did so, and also ordered Kramer to pay court-appointed attorney fees, $106.50 in court costs and $1,800 in restitution for his court-ordered psychosexual evaluation.
Kramer received credit for 619 days of pre-trial detention, and he was remanded to the custody of the sheriff’s office for transport to the state penitentiary.
Contact Jill Fier at jfier@brookingsregister.com.
