Larchwood, Iowa — A Brandon, SD man has been served a warrant for felony theft charges connected to an alleged crime at Grand Falls Casino near Larchwood.
According to a criminal complaint filed with the Lyon County Clerk of Court’s Office by the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation, 31-year-old Derek Vining of Brandon is accused of stealing a woman’s purse back in August at the casino. He was served with the Lyon County warrant on Tuesday, December 12th, after being picked up by the Minnehaha County, SD Sheriff’s Office in late November.
In his statement, the DCI agent says that on August 5th, Vining allegedly took a designer purse containing an iPhone, an Apple Watch, a designer wallet, $300 in cash, ID, and bank cards. The agent says surveillance video recorded the incident, and recorded him leaving the gaming floor, going to his vehicle, and heading to South Dakota. The agent says the items were worth between $1500 and $10,000.
Vining was charged with second-degree theft, a class D felony. If convicted, he could face up to five years in prison.
He faces a preliminary hearing on the charge on Friday, December 22nd, 2023.
At last report, as of Tuesday, he remained in the Minnehaha County Jail in Sioux Falls.
