Former Yankton Sheriff Deputy to Surrender in South Dakota on Forging Charges

Michael Rothschadl is preparing to turn himself in to South Dakota authorities after a grand jury indicted him for tampering with evidence.

Rothschadl, 56, served as the chief deputy sheriff for Yankton County, South Dakota, before moving to Georgia. He lost the Republican primary for Yankton County Sheriff in 2022. Since October 2023, he has worked as a deputy sheriff in Carroll County, Georgia. He has now resigned from that position to face the charges.

The indictment was issued on Oct. 26 by a Yankton County grand jury. Prosecutors accuse Rothschadl of two felonies. One count is for offering forged or fraudulent evidence, a Class 5 felony. The second is for falsification of evidence, a Class 6 felony. The alleged acts took place on or about April 1, 2021. The charging document does not identify the specific documents involved or the investigation where they were used.

Carroll County Sheriff’s Office Major Craig Dodson said his agency learned of the indictment last week from South Dakota prosecutors. Dodson stated that a pre-employment background check revealed no issues. He described Rothschadl as a good employee. Georgia authorities confirmed that Rothschadl is making arrangements to surrender to South Dakota law enforcement.

The two felony counts carry different potential penalties under South Dakota law. Rothschadl will answer to the charges in Yankton County. His resignation from the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office is effective immediately as he prepares for his surrender.