Watertown man sentenced to 70 years in prison after confessing to rape

Robert Marlen Hagen, 49, was sentenced Wednesday in Codington County Circuit Court, a news release said. He previously pleaded guilty to the two counts involving two victims. He was sentenced to 40 years in prison with five years suspended for each count, the release said.

The charges occurred between 2022 and 2023.

“I want to commend the courage of these young victims who came forward to expose these horrible crimes,” Attorney General Marty Jackley said in a press release. “Their actions helped bring this defendant to account and prevent further crimes.”

The investigation was conducted by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation and the Watertown Police Department. The South Dakota Attorney General’s Office prosecuted the case.