A reporter pleaded guilty Tuesday to a misdemeanor over a prank phone call he made using South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem’s personal phone number.
Austin Goss was behind the pre-recorded prank call to Dan Lederman, the former chairman of the South Dakota Republican Party.
The reporter used the website PrankDial to make it seem like the call came from Noem.
During the Jan. 22 prank, a mafia member angrily accused the recipient of swiping boxes of vaccines, according to police.
One of the lines was “You telling me you didn’t tell Vito that you were gonna try to move the three boxes of that AstraZeneca outside this family?”
The call ended with “You’ve just been pranked by PrankDial.com.”
Lederman told authorities that the audio recording “caused him concern for his safety.”
He also claimed Goss “occasionally text him snide or rude remarks,” according to a police report.
Goss was fired as the Dakota News Now’s Capitol bureau reporter when the news organization found out earlier this month.
He was at first charged with a more serious misdemeanor after he was arrested last Thursday that could have carried a year in prison if convicted.
He pleaded to a disorderly conduct charge.
Goss’ attorney described the call as a “practical joke” between his client and a pal Tuesday.
“The Court granted Mr. Goss a suspended imposition of sentence so there will be no conviction on his record,” lawyer Jason Glodt said in a statement.
“I believe it is unfortunate he was charged in the first place, but appreciate the willingness of the State’s Attorney to reduce the charge.”
Noem’s office said it would not have any comment on the case’s conclusion.
With Post wires