U.S. Attorney’s Office, judge recuse themselves in federal contempt case

ABERDEEN, S.D.(Aberdeen American News)- The U.S. Attorney’s Office in South Dakota and the U.S. Department of Justice have both recused themselves from prosecuting a criminal contempt of court case initiated by the federal judge based in Aberdeen.

And now that a Rapid City attorney has been appointed as prosecutor, Judge Charles B. Kornmann, who filed the case, has recused himself.

Kornmann filed criminal contempt of court charges against three supervising members of the U.S. Marshals Service. The dispute started with a question about the vaccination status of a U.S. deputy marshal and escalated with the removal of three defendants from the federal courthouse in Aberdeen.

John Kilgallon, chief of staff for the U.S. Marshals Service; Daniel Mosteller, U.S. marshal in South Dakota; and Stephen Houghtaling, chief deputy U.S. marshal for South Dakota; are charged with conspiracy to obstruct justice and contempt of court. A trial is set for Sept. 13.

Check out the full story at www.aberdeennews.com