FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  Friday, February 5, 2016 
CONTACT:  Sara Rabern  (605) 773-3215 

  
Campbell County Woman Convicted of Arson

PIERRE, S.D. – Attorney General Marty Jackley announced that after a three day trial, a Campbell County Jury found Lori Brandner, 41, of Herreid, South Dakota, guilty of three counts.  Brandner was convicted of Aiding and Abetting Arson, Class 4 felony, (maximum penalty ten years imprisonment in the state penitentiary and a fine of twenty thousand dollars may be imposed); Conspiracy to Commit Arson, Class 5 felony, (five years imprisonment in the state penitentiary and a fine of ten thousand dollars may be imposed) and Submitting a Fraudulent Insurance Claim, Class 4 felony.

The convictions stem from Brandner and her three co-defendants, who previously pled guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Arson, setting fire to the Roadhouse Bar and Grill on Main Street of Herreid, South Dakota, on January 21st, 2015, for insurance proceeds.  The fire did extensive damage to the Bar which was owned by Brandner and her husband.  After the fire, Brandner submitted a fraudulent $310,000 insurance claim to Columbia Group Insurance Company.  The co-defendants who previously pled guilty were Cheyenne Davis, Ryan Kaelberer and Tyler Armbrust.  

This case was investigated by the Campbell County Sheriff’s Office, the South Dakota State Fire Marshall, the ATF and the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation and was prosecuted by the Attorney General’s Office and the Campbell County State’s Attorney’s Office.

“Arson involving Main Street businesses in our small towns in South Dakota is serious crime that can affect the whole community.   Law enforcement is committed to protecting businesses and communities from such dangerous actions and holding those responsible accountable,” said Jackley.

Following the verdicts, Brandner was remanded into custody at the Selby County Jail and a sentencing date has not yet been set. 

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