PIERRE, S.D.(DRGNews)- A former state Department of Revenue employee from Pierre has been sentenced on a misdemeanor count of Misprison of a Felony.

52 year old Danielle Degenstein (deegan-stine) was investigated for knowing a coworker had forged a power of attorney document for that coworker’s own personal financial gain, but not reporting that action to a supervisor.

Degenstein entered her guilty plea Tuesday in Hughes County Circuit Court. She was granted a suspended imposition of sentence with one year in jail suspended, one year of unsupervised probation, a $500 fine and court costs.

The charge against Degenstein is connected to the case of 64 year old Lynne Hunsley, also of Pierre.

In December 2024, Hunsley was sentenced to three years of probation after pleading guilty to Forgery and Grand Theft by Deception. She was accused of using her position with the Department of Revenue’s Division of Motor Vehicles to falsify records (between Jan. 1, 2021 and June 30, 2023), resulting in her not having to pay $1200 in tax liabilities to the state. The judge suspended a three year prison term on the Forgery charge and a one year prison term on the Grand Theft by Deception charge, providing Hunsley successfully completes the three year probation period. Hunsley must also pay a combined fine of $1000, $233 in court costs and $1200 in restitution.

The cases were investigated by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation. The Attorney General’s Office prosecuted them.