SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — 47-year-old Donald Tinklepaugh is in the Minnehaha County Jail, facing 21 counts of raping a child.
According to court documents, the alleged crimes began in September of 2016, when the victim was just 8 years old, and continued for nearly two years until May of 2018.
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Tinklepaugh is familiar with the court system. KELOLAND News reached out to the South Dakota Bar, which confirmed that his law license has been active since 2004. Since then, his career has included time at the U.S. Attorney’s office. A spokesman told us he left 18 years ago, or around 2006.
Between 2007 and 2012, a spokesman with the South Dakota Attorney General’s office confirmed a person by the same name worked there.
According to a federal salary database, Tinklepaugh worked as an attorney for the U.S. Social Security Administration from 2015 until at least 2023.
KELOLAND News also looked at Tinklepaugh’s record. In the past, he’s faced traffic offenses and has been involved in protection orders, but this is the first time he’s faced criminal charges.