South Dakota man guilty of fifth DUI

Harold Chant of New Underwood, South Dakota has been sentenced to three to five years for driving while drunk after being pulled over on the highway for unsafe driving.

According to court reports, Chant was pulled over for failing to maintain a single lane of travel on Hwy 14 at mile marker 202.2 at around 10 a.m. on November 2, 2023.

Chant was the sole occupant of the vehicle and was observed to have bloodshot eyes, slurred speech and the odor of alcohol about his person. He allegedly admitted to drinking a lot “last night” and said he had stopped drinking at 3 a.m.

An unopened container of alcohol and one partially consumed container was also visible in Chant’s vehicle.

When asked to perform standardized field sobriety tests, Chant allegedly declined and said the test was going to show he was “hammered”. According to court reports, the tests revealed numerous signs of inebriation, such as a lack of ability to keep his balance while walking or standing on one leg.

The results were allegedly consistent with someone under the influence of an intoxicating substance to a degree rendering him incapable of safely driving.

Chant allegedly admitted to not having a driver’s license; a search of his driver status showed it had been revoked for multiple charges of driving under the influence.

Chant pled guilty to driving under the influence, fourth or subsequent offense within ten years, with three prior convictions in Pennington County, SD, in 2014, 2016 and 2021 and one in Meade County, SD, in 2021.

Judge Matthew F.G. Castano sentenced him to between three and five years in a state penal institution and a fine of $100.