Former South Dakota Attorney General to work in Southeast Asia

Pennington County State’s Attorney resigns, leaving post next month

Longtime Pennington County State’s Attorney and former South Dakota Attorney General Mark Vargo is taking his expertise overseas.

The 59-year-old Republican will step down from his position as the top prosecutor in South Dakota’s second most populous county next month after a decade at the post.

“I am moving to Thailand where I’ll be working on a rule-of-law project that relates to Southeast Asia,” Vargo told The Dakota Scout Tuesday evening.

State’s attorney in Pennington County since 2013, Vargo has been hired by a non-profit organization that assists under-developed countries to create government systems that promote justice.

His last day as state’s attorney is April 24, and he’ll be in Thailand by early May, he said.

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