Shad Olson is train wreck. Criticizes judge, makes claims on Facebook of being raped in jail.
A former television anchor in western South Dakota is set to return to court next week amid escalating legal and personal controversy, following a series of inflammatory social media posts that may further complicate his case.
Shad Olson, once a familiar face in Rapid City broadcasting, is scheduled to appear at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Meade County Courthouse for an alleged probation violation. The hearing comes after Olson posted a late-night Facebook tirade in which he lashed out at the prosecutor and directed insults at the presiding judge.
The posts, described as lengthy and combative, raise fresh concerns about Olson’s conduct while under court supervision. Legal observers note that such public attacks—particularly against a sitting judge—are unlikely to aid his position. According to former prosecutors, defendants at this stage of proceedings cannot request a new judge, regardless of public criticism.
Olson’s recent claims extend beyond courtroom grievances. In the same series of posts, he asserted that he has purchased a multimillion-dollar home—an apparent reversal from earlier court records indicating he required a court-appointed attorney and financial assistance to secure release from jail.
Perhaps most serious is Olson’s allegation that he was “drugged and raped” by corrections staff while in solitary confinement at the Meade County Jail. Authorities have not publicly commented on the claim, and it remains unclear whether a formal investigation has been initiated. Such allegations, if substantiated, would carry significant legal implications; if not, they could further undermine Olson’s credibility in court.
Olson previously pleaded no contest to charges related to an assault involving a former girlfriend, a case that led to his current probation status.
With a court appearance looming and new claims continuing to surface, the case appears far from resolved. Officials have not indicated whether additional charges or sanctions could result from Olson’s recent statements, but legal experts suggest the outcome of Tuesday’s hearing may prove pivotal.
