Meister Sentenced in Custer County District Court
Sentencing was handed down on Thursday, November 12th in Custer County District Court for Jared J. Meister, age 40 of Rising City. Judge Karin Noakes sentenced the defendant to two years probation and ordered restitution be made to Mitch and Roxanne Huggins in the amount of $5,000. A plea agreement was reached in the case in October. At that time, in exchange for the charge being amended to theft by unlawful taking in the amount of over $1,500 but under $5,000, a Class I misdemeanor, Meister changed his previous plea from not guilty to no contest. In August of 2025, Meister pleaded not guilty to the original charge of theft by unlawful taking in an amount of over $5,000, a Class IIA felony. The case stems from an investigation into the disappearance of a blonde bison bull belonging to Mitch and Roxanne Huggins, owners of the Comstock Premier Lodge located in Custer County. According to information shared in court during sentencing, civil cases are pending in the matter.
