Presho man shoots dog of daughter, 10, for barking

KENNEBEC — A Presho man is accused of kidnapping his 10-year-old daughter, firing a gun near her head, striking her with the butt of a gun and shooting her dog.

Clinton James Brown, 35, was indicted by a grand jury Friday on 14 felony and three misdemeanor charges. He could face a mandatory life sentence if convicted.

A news release was issued Friday by the state Attorney General’s Office after the indictment. On Wednesday, The Daily Republic uncovered further details of Brown’s alleged crimes.

According to an affidavit prepared by Lyman County Sheriff’s Deputy Don Jennings, he received a call on Aug. 17 from Barb Brown, the grandmother of Clinton Brown’s daughter. She reported Clinton Brown had barricaded himself inside a rural house with his daughter and told her she would never see her granddaughter again.

Barb Brown also told Jennings that Clinton Brown “was wigging out and had to be on drugs,” the affidavit says.

Jennings then contacted Lyman County Sheriff Steve Manger, and the two obtained a search warrant for the residence where the incident allegedly occurred.

When authorities reached Brown’s daughter, she “had several injuries and was extremely distraught,” the affidavit says.

According to the indictment, Brown held his daughter in a vehicle and a field for approximately three hours from 3 a.m. to 6 a.m. on Aug. 17 before authorities arrived. The indictment alleges Brown choked his daughter, pointed a gun at her, repeatedly fired a gun around her — including at least one shot near her head — and struck her with the butt of a gun.

Brown also allegedly shot his daughter’s dog on Aug. 15 — her birthday — in front of her, “and taunted her about it after she refused to follow his orders to kill the dog for barking.”

Brown was allegedly under the influence of methamphetamine and marijuana at the time of the Aug. 17 incident. During a search of the residence, authorities allegedly found methamphetamine, marijuana, a 12-gauge shotgun, a .22 caliber rifle, several rounds of ammunition and several items of drug paraphernalia. According to indictment, Brown is already a convicted felon.

After initially being held at the Brule County Jail, Brown was taken to the Hughes County Jail in Pierre, where he is being held without bond, according to a jailer.

Brown’s daughter, Jennings, Manger, state Division of Criminal Investigation Agent Chad Mosteller and Drug Task Force Agent Shane Severyn all testified before the grand jury.

Chamberlain attorney Larry Hollmann has been appointed to represent Brown. Barring a continuance, Lyman County Clerk of Courts Rebecca Altman expects Brown will appear in court later this month.

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