A woman accused of trying to poison her husband and starting a fire in October of 2015 in Mitchell has reached a deal with prosecutors. 40 year old Dawn Long pleaded no contest to aggravated assault during a Thursday court appearance. In exchange for the guilty plea prosecutors agreed to dismiss an attempted first-degree murder charge and reckless burning. According to documents filed with the court, Long purchased a large amount of anhydrous, or liquid caffeine that she placed in a rum bottle from which Todd Long consumed. Todd Long was later hospitalized. A state laboratory test confirmed the presence of caffeine in the rum bottle. The couple later divorced.
Dawn Long did not dispute the factual basis in the no contest plea.
Prosecutors recommended Long serve fifteen years in prison with seven years suspended. The court agreed.
Judge Chris Giles ordered a pre-sentence report and set sentencing for April 30th at 9 am. Aggravated assault is punishable by a maximum of fifteen years in prison and or a $30,000 fine.