Kristi Noem denies clemency to two thieves

One week after inking a second commutation in as many months for a person convicted of murder, Gov. Kristi Noem denied sentence reduction requests for two men serving time on theft charges.

Noem sent the denial letters Wednesday to 78-year-old Elmos Hopkins and 46-year-old James Pasek.

Hopkins picked up two five-year sentences for grand theft and one 50-year sentence for burglary in Lincoln County in 2012. His initial parole date is set for August of 2037.

Pasek was...