JANUARY 17, 2025:
Two South Dakota Penitentiary inmates have been sentenced to additional time in prison after they had earlier been found guilty of assaulting two correctional officers at the South Dakota Penitentiary in 2023.
“These correctional officers were violently assaulted while doing their job,” said Attorney General Marty Jackley. “This type of behavior against DOC staff or other inmates will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted.”
Inmates Lester M. Monroe, 49, and Kyle L. Jones, 31, were sentenced Friday (Jan. 17, 2025) in Minnehaha County Circuit Court. The two had been found guilty In November, 2024 of Attempted First Degree Murder of a Law Enforcement Officer and Aggravated Assault of a Department of Corrections Employee. Kyle Jones also was found guilty of a separate count of Simple Assault of a Department of Corrections Employee.
Monroe was sentenced to an additional 35 years in prison on his two charges. That will be served consecutively after he completes the seven years remaining on his current sentence on charges of Simple Assault on Law Enforcement out of Minnehaha County and Receiving/Transferring a Stolen Vehicle out of Bennett County.
Jones was sentenced to an additional 50 years in prison on his three charges. That will be served consecutively after he completes his current sentence on charges of First Degree Manslaughter, Eluding a Police Officer, and Unauthorized Ingestion of a Controlled Substance, all out of Minnehaha County. His initial sentence does not end until 2063.
The August 24, 2023 incident occurred in Unit D of the Jameson Annex in Sioux Falls. Both officers were treated and released.
The State Division of Criminal Investigation and Department of Corrections Special Investigations Unit investigated the incident. The Attorney General’s Office handled the prosecution.
NOVEMBER 2024:
Two inmates have been found guilty of assaulting two correctional officers at the South Dakota Men’s State Penitentiary in 2023.
Offenders Lester Monroe, age 49, and Kyle Jones, age 31, were both found guilty of Attempted First Degree Murder of a Law Enforcement Officer and Aggravated Assault of a Department of Corrections Employee. Additionally, Jones was also found guilty of one count of Simple Assault of a Department of Corrections Employee. The two were convicted Friday (Nov. 1, 2024) by a Minnehaha Circuit Court Jury after a week-long trial.
The two will be sentenced at a later date. The maximum sentence is 100 years, as they are subject to double the maximum penalty given their status as prisoners when they committed their crimes.
Attorney General Marty Jackley says this was a violent assault on two of our correctional officers, including one officer who was struck more than 70 times, while doing their job. He says violence in the prison will not be tolerated, and offenders will be held accountable.
The August 24, 2023, incident occurred in Unit D of the Jameson Annex in Sioux Falls. Both officers were treated and released.
Monroe is serving time for Simple Assault on Law Enforcement out of Minnehaha County and Receiving/Transferring a Stolen Vehicle out of Bennett County. Jones is serving time for First Degree Manslaughter, Eluding a Police Officer and Unauthorized Ingestion of a Controlled Substance, all out of Minnehaha County.
The State Division of Criminal Investigation and the Department of Corrections Special Investigations Unit investigated the incident. The Attorney General’s Office handled the prosecution.
SEPTEMBER 28, 2023:
Two state prison inmates have been indicted (Sept. 26, 2023) on charges, including Attempted First Degree Murder, for their attack on two state correctional officers last month (Aug. 24, 2023) at the State Penitentiary in Sioux Falls.
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley says a Minnehaha County Grand Jury Tuesday indicted inmates Lester Monroe, age 48, and Kyle Jones, age 30, for Attempted First Degree Murder of a Law Enforcement Officer and Aggravated Assault Against a Department of Corrections Employee. The Attempted First Degree Murder charge carries a maximum sentence of 50 years in prison and a $50,000 fine. The Aggravated Assault charge carries a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison and a $50,000 fine.
Jones also was indicted on a charge of Simple Assault Against a Department of Corrections Employee involving a second correctional officer. The charge carries a maximum sentence of four years in prison and a $4,000 fine.
The first correctional officer was assaulted by the two inmates in Unit D of the Jameson Annex. The second officer was attacked when they arrived to help their colleague. Both officers were taken to a local hospital where they were treated and released.
The State Division of Criminal Investigation is investigating the incident. The Attorney General’s Office is handling the prosecution.
AUGUST 24, 2023:
Two inmates in the South Dakota State Penitentiary in Sioux Falls are each charged with Attempted Murder and Aggravated Assault Against A Law Enforcement Officer in connection to an incident with a state correctional officer this morning (Aug. 24, 2023).
Attorney General Marty Jackley says 48 year old Lester M. Monroe and 30 year old Kyle L. Jones were arrested after assaulting the correctional officer at 8:30am in Unit D of the Jameson Annex. The officer was taken to a local hospital where he was treated and released.
The inmates also will be charged with a second Aggravated Assault Against A Law Enforcement Officer for an attack on a second correctional officer who arrived to help their colleague. That second officer was also treated at a local hospital and later released.
Department of Corrections Secretary Kellie Wasko applauded the swift actions of security staff to get control of this situation.
Monroe is serving time for Simple Assault on Law Enforcement out of Minnehaha County and Receiving/Transferring a Stolen Vehicle out of Bennett County.
Jones is serving time for First Degree Manslaughter, Eluding a Police Officer and Unauthorized Ingestion of a Controlled Substance, all out of Minnehaha County.
Monroe and Jones are both presumed innocent under the US Constitution, until or unless proven guilty.
The state Division of Criminal Investigation is investigating the incident. The Attorney General’s Office is handling the prosecution.
Inmate offender Lester M. Monroe booking photo from South Dakota Department of Corrections.
Inmate offender Kyle L. Jones booking photo from South Dakota Department of Corrections.
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