Former KOTA and KSFY-KDLT reporter Austin Goss has plead guilty to reduced charges after he made a prank phone call using South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem’s personal cell phone number.
Goss made the call in January to Dan Lederman, the former chairman of the South Dakota Republican Party. The call, which came from a website called PrankDial, made it appear as if it were coming from Noem’s cell phone.
Goss was fired from his job as the Capitol bureau reporter for Dakota News Now and was charged with a misdemeanor count of making threatening, harassing or misleading contacts. The charges carried a maximum penalty of one year’s imprisonment and $2,000 in fines.
Goss’ lawyer, Jason Glodt, said the call was a practical joke between Goss and a friend.
“The Court granted Mr. Goss a suspended imposition of sentence so there will be no conviction on his record,” Glodt said in a statement. “I believe it is unfortunate he was charged in the first place, but appreciate the willingness of the State’s Attorney to reduce the charge.”
The Associated Press said Goss declined to comment about the call or his plea. A spokesperson for Noem said the governor wouldn’t have a comment about the matter.