Lonna Carroll, a former South Dakota Department of Social Services DSS employee, faces charges of stealing over $1.7 million during her 14-year tenure in the child protection office.
Her defense attorney, Timothy Whalen, is seeking the court’s permission for a forensic accountant and a mental health professional, the latter to assess whether Carroll’s alleged actions might be related to Hoarding Disorder, a form of obsessive-compulsive disorder.
However, the prosecution, led by Assistant Attorney General Nolan Welker, argues that these requests are unnecessary and that there is no basis for an insanity defense in Carroll’s case.
Arrested on July 17, Carroll pleaded not guilty to charges of aggravated grand theft and, due to her declared indigence, has a court-appointed attorney. She awaits a scheduled trial for December 4, with motions for additional resources under consideration.
The defense argues that a mental health professional is crucial to building Carroll’s case, while the prosecution contends that such testimony may not meet legal standards for an insanity plea.
Prosecutors intend to introduce evidence of Carroll’s lifestyle, which allegedly exceeded her known income, as well as details about her behavior at work, suggesting possible motives and patterns. A hearing on these requests and other procedural matters is set for November 1, with Carroll currently held on a $50,000 cash bond.
