Man, woman plead not guilty to kidnapping

A man and woman accused of planning to kill an acquaintance they thought was working as a law enforcement informant were arraigned this week on kidnapping and assault charges.

Donald Robert Wise, 32, of Crooks and Heather Marie McBeth, 30, of Sioux Falls were arrested on Aug. 11 once police stopped their SUV at 18th Street and Minnesota. After the stop, the woman McBeth and Wise are accused of assaulting and kidnapping caught an officer's attention, police said.

Both pleaded not guilty at their arraignments on Monday.

Randy Sample, Minnehaha County deputy state's attorney, said the suspects and victim at some point used drugs together, and when the victim stopped taking the drugs, they thought she was working with police.

A grand jury indicted Wise and McBeth on one count each of first-degree kidnapping and aggravated assault last week. The first charge carries the possibility of life behind bars; the second, up to 15 years.