SF Man Faces Charges Over Election 'Robo-Calls'

A 31-year-old Sioux Falls man has been charged with four counts of election law violations for sending out ‘robo-calls’ attacking South Dakota Republican Party leadership during the election.

Daniel Willard of Sioux Falls has been charged with four Class 1 misdemeanors. Willard is accused of sending out calls between September 12 and September 17 that attacked Senator Russell Olson, Representative Brian Gosch and Representative David Lust without adding the appropriate disclaimer and identification at the end of the call that said who sponsored the call.

The maximum penalty for each count is up to one year in jail and up to a $2,000 fine.

According to Attorney General Marty Jackley, the charges have been filed in Lake County where the phone calls were received.

On the same day he was charged Willard sent out a press release announcing his candidacy for the South Dakota Republican Party Chairman. Willard said in the release that he wants to, 'help refocus the South Dakota Republican Party on its traditional conservative ideals.'

Willard said in the release that he is a six-year veteran of the United States Army and worked on campaigns for Rep. Manny Steele, Sen. Dave Omdahl, Sen. Ernie Otten Jr., Rep. Dan Kaiser, Rep. Jim Stalzer, Rep. Stace Nelson, and Sen. Tim Begalka during the 2012 election cycle. He also served as a delegate for Rep. Ron Paul's presidential campaign.

Sen. Tim Rave is the current party chairman.

We’ll have more on this case later today on KELOLAND.com and KELOLAND News.

Read Willard's biography and his SD GOP chairmanship announcement on the PDF link below: