office of the state's attorney

The Corson County State's Attorney is Shane Penfield.  In addition to Corson County, Mr. Penfield is also the State's Attorney for Perkins, Dewey, and Ziebach Counties.  

Shane grew up on a ranch located ten miles south of Thunder Hawk, South Dakota. He graduated from Lemmon High School in 1994 and began attending the University of South Dakota the next fall. Shane received a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science, Masters of Public Administration, and  Juris Doctorate all from USD. During his time at the University, Mr. Penfield served on the South Dakota Board of Regents as the Student Regent from 1998 until his graduation from law school in 2003, having been appointed by Governors Janklow and Rounds. Upon graduation from the University, he was appointed by Judge Warren Johnson to a clerkship with the Fourth Judicial Circuit headquartered in  Deadwood. 

In 2004, Shane began practicing law at the Rapid City law firm of Gunderson, Palmer, Goodsell and Nelson, LLP and gained valuable experience as an associate working with several premier attorneys at the firm. 

In 2007, Shane and his wife Kelli decided to move to Lemmon, South Dakota to start a law practice where they continue to live with their four children. Shane currently serves as the State’s  Attorney of Perkins, Ziebach, Corson and Dewey Counties. He is also the City Attorney for Lemmon,  McIntosh, Bison, Faith, McLaughlin, Timber Lake, and Dupree.

In addition to these positions, Shane is engaged in his private law practice, a member of the Lemmon Fire Department, and operates a ranch south of Lemmon on land that has been in his family for four generations.