DAWSON — The owner of the Redemption Basketball Academy of Dawson is facing criminal charges in South Dakota for alleged improper sexual conduct involving a 12-year-old.
Kendra Joanne Lindblad, 26, of rural Dawson, was indicted Oct. 28 by a grand jury in South Dakota's Lincoln County on two Class 3 felony charges: sexual contact with a child under age 16 and attempted sexual contact with a child under age 16.
Both charges allege actions involving a 12-year-old child while Lindblad was age 24. The grand jury indictment says the alleged conduct occurred on or between Nov. 1, 2017, and Feb. 28, 2018, in Lincoln County, which is in southeastern South Dakota.
A Class 3 felony conviction is punishable by up to 15 years in prison and/or a $30,000 fine. Under South Dakota law, the maximum penalty for conviction of an attempted Class 3 felony would be one-half that.
The state of South Dakota issued a warrant for Lindblad's arrest on Nov. 1, 2019.
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The state of Minnesota filed a felony charge of fugitive from justice from another state against Lindblad on Dec. 13. A hearing was held on that date in Lac qui Parle County District Court. She was released after posting a $5,000 bond on condition she remain law-abiding and make all future appearances, according to court records.
An extradition hearing has been scheduled Dec. 30 in the Lac qui Parle County fugitive case.
A Jan. 6 date is on the court calendar in the South Dakota sexual contact case.
Lindblad is a graduate of Dakota State University in Madison, South Dakota, where she was a well-known basketball player for the school. She serves as an athletic trainer and operates and owns the Redemption Basketball Academy for school-age athletes. The academy operates in the gym that is part of the Dawson Covenant Church south of Dawson.
Lindblad is interested in purchasing and remodeling the former Clarkfield School's west gymnasium for use by her basketball academy. Clarkfield City Council members supported her proposal, and the gymnasium and locker rooms were preserved while the other school buildings were recently razed.
