By Carleen Wild
Moody County Enterprise
The future of District 25 Sen. Tom Pischke as a member of the South Dakota Legislature may depend on the outcome of two felony charges now moving through the court system.
Pischke, who represents Moody County, appeared in Minnehaha County court this past week, where his attorney entered a not guilty plea on his behalf. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Aug. 21.
Pischke, of Dell Rapids, is charged with two counts of knowingly submitting a falsified or forged document.
The charges stem from a months-long investigation into nomination forms filed for Republican precinct committee positions. Investigators allege multiple forms contained forged signatures or were submitted without the knowledge of the individuals listed as candidates.
Court documents state the investigation included DNA evidence recovered from envelopes containing the forms and surveillance footage that allegedly linked a vehicle registered to Pischke to a mail drop box where the paperwork was mailed.
Pischke has not yet been able to challenge the allegations in court.
Pischke won his Republican primary unopposed and is scheduled to face independent candidate Bryan Breitling in the November general election.