S.D. Supreme Court reverses intentional destruction conviction

Prosecutors failed to show that woman intentionally sought to damage windshield of ex-husband's wife

The South Dakota Supreme Court has ordered a new trial for a woman who was convicted of intentionally damaging the property of her ex-husband’s current wife.

The Court’s opinion suggests that Deuel County resident Rebecca Vandyke should not have been convicted of intentionally damaging the vehicle of Kara Vostad, who was the wife of Vandyke’s ex-husband at the time of the incident.

Vandyke was the mother of two children with her ex, Justin Vostad. On Dec. 26, 2021, Kara Vostad attempted to pick up the two children at Vandyke’s home. After the 2 p.m. exchange time came and went, Kara Vostad sent text messages to Vandyke that were not acknowledged. Vostad then honked the horn on her vehicle.

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