RAPID CITY, S.D. (KELOLAND) — Prosecutors say it’s a crime that’s been happening among Mitchell Legion baseball players for years and, thanks to a brave victim, it may finally stop.

It’s a case we’ve been following for more than a year.

Six former Mitchell Legion baseball players were initially charged with raping a teammate at a Rapid City hotel when they were in town for a tournament.

They recently made plea deals and each of them admitted to being an accessory to a felony.

On Thursday the players learned their fate.

Inside the Pennington County Courthouse, the judge heard from the victim and his father.

The judge told them they should have been applauded for coming forward, not shamed by their community.

Prosecutors also showed a video of the 2023 crime.

When it came time for sentencing, the Judge said he was bothered because he saw some people in the courtroom smirking as the video played.

He also told the courtroom he was disappointed that one of the victim’s former coaches wrote a character letter claiming the victim only came forward because he wasn’t getting enough playing time.

The judge listened to the victim’s request and did not give the former players jail time.

Instead they will all be on probation for the next three years and will each need to do 500 hours of community service which cannot be sports-related.

Each defendant also has to pay a $1,300 fine.