Aberdeen man sentenced for rape, attempted rape gets concurrent 10-year sentences

ABERDEEN, S.D.(Aberdeen American News)- An Aberdeen man convicted on a count of attempted rape in 2021 pleaded guilty to an unrelated charge of rape and was recently sentenced on both charges.

Clinton Bear Shield, 23, was sentenced to concurrent 10-year prison terms with four years suspended. He was given credit for 312 days served and was ordered to pay $2,623 in fines and court costs.

Bear Shield was convicted following a jury trial in September 2021 on the attempted rape charge, which was in connection to a September 2020 incident involving an 18-year old.

While awaiting sentencing on that charge, the rape charge was filed in connection to a separate incident sometime between Aug. 1, 2019, and Dec. 1, 2019.

Brown County Chief Deputy State’s Attorney Jennifer Stoddard said details about the second incident came up late in preparation for trial. Bear Shield pleaded no contest in May to the rape charge. Stoddard said Bear Shield  has no memory of the incident.