PIERRE, S.D. – 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.
