RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) – The South Dakota Supreme Court has upheld the convictions of a Pennington County man sentenced for threatening a Box Elder resident with a handgun during a 2025 home invasion.

In a unanimous decision, the court affirmed the convictions of Chris David Kujawa, who was found guilty of first-degree burglary and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. A Pennington County jury convicted Kujawa in May 2025, and he was sentenced to concurrent 12-year prison terms.

According to trial testimony, Kujawa forced his way into a Box Elder home, accused the homeowner of stealing property and pointed a handgun at the victim’s head while threatening to kill him. The victim testified Kujawa also threatened his wife.

Kujawa appealed the convictions, arguing the trial court improperly limited questions about the victim’s prior convictions and incorrectly responded to a question from jurors during deliberations.

The Supreme Court rejected those arguments, finding that any error related to the victim’s prior conviction did not affect the outcome of the case and that the judge properly directed jurors to review instructions that accurately stated the law.

“The Supreme Court’s decision affirms the jury’s verdict and recognizes the strength of the evidence presented at trial,” Attorney General Marty Jackley said in a statement.

The Attorney General’s Office represented the state during the appeal.

See a spelling or grammatical error in our story? Please click here to report it.

Do you have a photo or video of a breaking news story? Send it to us here with a brief description.

• Baboucarr Ann, a four-star recruit from Minnesota, has committed to the Wisconsin men’s basketball team.
• He is the third commit for Wisconsin’s 2027 class.
• Ann chose Wisconsin over offers from Notre Dame, Iowa State and Minnesota, among others.

MADISON – Greg Gard and Co. have landed another one of their top recruiting targets in the 2027 class.

Baboucarr Ann, a four-star recruit from Maple Grove, Minnesota, announced his commitment to Wisconsin men’s basketball via social media on June 25.

“Belief. Trust. Development. Family,” Ann said in a tweet. “That’s why I’m a Badger.”

Ann chose the Badgers over scholarship offers from Notre Dame, Iowa State and nearby Minnesota, among other high-major programs. 247 Sports has ranked the 6-foot-5 prospect No. 84 nationally and No. 1 in Minnesota.

He is the third UW commit in the 2027 class, joining Wauwatosa West guard Jalen Brown and 7-foot-1 center Jack Thelen. Brown also is a top-100 recruit in 247 Sports’ rankings.

Ann and Thelen are teammates both at Maple Grove and on the AAU circuit. Brad Davison, UW’s special assistant to the head coach, is a Maple Grove alum and had a key role in Ann’s recruitment.

While the rankings surely will fluctuate as other schools pick up more commitments, the Badgers have 247 Sports’ third-best recruiting class in the country. Iowa State and Illinois are the only higher-rated classes.