Dec. 19—MITCHELL — A Mitchell woman implicated in a drug operation at a local gas station has been sentenced for her role.
Shelly Klapkin, 57, pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), a Class 5 felony, in court on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024, at the Davison County Public Safety Center in Mitchell. As part of a plea agreement, prosecutors dismissed an additional Class 5 felony charge of unauthorized ingestion of a controlled substance (methamphetamine).
The court sentenced Klapkin to five years in prison but suspended the entire term. She was credited with five days served and ordered to pay a $750 fine. Additionally, Klapkin was placed on probation for two years.
The charges against Klapkin arose from a police raid at the Freedom Valu Center gas station, which began with a traffic stop involving another employee, Mark Leach. During the search of the gas station, law enforcement discovered methamphetamine and related paraphernalia. A pink bag concealed beneath a cigarette display was linked to Klapkin, who acknowledged ownership but initially denied that a syringe belonged to her.
Leach, who was arrested during the same incident, has denied allegations of violating probation and pleaded not guilty to drug charges. He faces charges including distribution of methamphetamine and could face up to 35 years in prison along with fines up to $70,000. A jury trial for Leach is scheduled for February.
Another defendant, Tina Hauge, who is Leach’s roommate, also pleaded not guilty to multiple drug charges in early November. She is set to face a jury trial in February as well.