FORMER CORRECTIONS DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEE SENTENCED

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The South Dakota Attorney General’s Office is reporting a former Department of Corrections employee has been sentenced after earlier pleading guilty to crimes involving a prison inmate.

22 year old Madyson Bixby of Sioux Falls was sentenced Tuesday in Minnehaha County Circuit Court after pleading guilty to one felony count of Compounding a Felony and one felony count of Possession of an Unauthorized Article (a cellphone with intent to deliver to an inmate). She was sentenced to two years in prison, both suspended, on each count, and 48 months of probation. Prosecutors had asked for four years in the state prison.

“This defendant violated the trust of the Department of Corrections and put others at risk,” said Attorney General Jackley. “Cases like this are why I have prioritized improving corrections, and I look forward to working with our Legislature to improve corrections and strengthen our laws to hold offenders more accountable.”

The charges were connected to an investigation involving an inmate conspiring with another person to burn someone else’s car on Jan. 4 2024 in Sioux Falls. The defendant also brought a cellphone into the prison and delivered it to the inmate.

As part of his 2025 legislative priorities, Attorney General Jackley is proposing to revise provisions related to the delivery, possession with intent to deliver, and possession of unauthorized articles by inmates in a state correctional facility.  “The Attorney General’s legislation seeks to protect our correctional officers from devices being used to put our officers and other inmates in danger,” said Attorney General Jackley.

This case was investigated by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) and the South Dakota Department of Corrections Special Investigations Unit. The case was prosecuted by the Attorney General’s Office.

 

INCOMING SOUTH DAKOTA LEGISLATOR WANTS TEN COMMANDMENTS DISPLAYED AND TAUGHT IN CLASSROOMS

PIERRE, S.D. – A bill that would require the Ten Commandments to be posted and taught in public schools will make an appearance in the 2025 legislative session.

First-term lawmakers usually don’t carry much legislation, if at all, but Senator John Carley out of Piedmont, S.D., said it’s important to recognize the historical significance of the Ten Commandments in U.S. history.

If Carley’s bill were to pass, it would require schools to have the Ten Commandments posted in classrooms and taught as a historical document.

“We need to illustrate our history and truth, some people may want to say, ‘We don’t want to talk about these topics,’ but the Ten Commandments certainly were a part of the founding of our country,” Carley said.

Carley hopes the Christian document is taught alongside other prominent documents, including the United States Constitution, South Dakota Constitution, the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights.

He said the mention of God does not equate to a push of a religion and points to the Christian God’s role in prominent documents such as the Declaration of Independence and the Magna Carta. He also points to the stories of many historical U.S. figures as proof.

“We call him Reverend Martin Luther King. We are illustrating the historical context that he was a reverend. he wasn’t a Muslim cleric or a Hindu priest. We put his title of what it is to illustrate truth.”

Carley added that although this bill is meant to point out the historical significance of the Ten Commandments, he recognizes that there could be some cultural impact as well.

“If we find kids honoring their father and mother, a lot of parents will be happy about that. If we find people are not stealing, lying or murdering, I think our Sheriff Department and law enforcement will certainly be happy,” said Carley.

Legislative activity continues to pick up with over 50 bills filed with the 100th session just days away.

 

MULTI-STATE CRIME SPREE THAT STARTED IN SIOUX FALLS ENDS IN NEBRASKA

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) – Datavion Taylor and Marquise Spotted Eagle are accused of taking two underage girls out of state in a stolen car and committing crimes along the way.

Court documents are giving a better idea of how the situation unfolded.

It began on the night of August 10, 2024 when two men – matching Taylor and Spotted Eagle’s descriptions – stole a car outside a South Minnesota Avenue gas station in Sioux Falls.

Surveillance video from the business also shows two girls who appear to be in their teens.

In addition to the stolen car, court documents say they also found an AR-15 rifle inside.

According to KELO News, over the next few days, investigators from Colorado and Nebraska reached out to Sioux Falls Police saying the stolen vehicle had been involved in a string of crimes.

Authorities found one of the girls in Colorado and launched a nationwide search.

A day later, troopers found the two men and the other girl in central Nebraska.

The State Patrol says they were driving a stolen van and one of the men threw a gun out of the window.

They were booked into jail on several Nebraska charges. There are warrants for Spotted Eagle’s arrest in Colorado and South Dakota.

Taylor is in the Minnehaha County Jail, accused of possessing a stolen car, stealing a gun and contributing to the delinquency of a child.

Earlier,, he pleaded guilty to another charge connected with the same case in Union County.

 

SOUTH DAKOTA VOLUNTEERS HEAD TO THE FRONTLINES OF LA WILDFIRES WITH RED CROSS

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – With multiple major wildfires in southern California forcing thousands to evacuate and 11 confirmed deaths so far, many are answering the call to disaster relief, working alongside the American Red Cross.

Even from thousands of miles away, the devastation in Los Angeles County was too much for some South Dakotans to ignore. Many volunteers from the upper Midwest have already made their way to the frontlines.

As the number of displaced families continues to climb, relief couldn’t be more pressing.

American Red Cross Disaster Program Manager for the Eastern South Dakota Chapter, Rob Reuland said that the Minnesota-Dakotas Region is the leading area for sending volunteers to disasters nationally.

“A very high number of volunteers out of the three-state region have responded to this call for help or assistance today,” Reuland said. “It’s very uplifting to see our volunteers willing to do whatever they need to help those in need.”

While the Red Cross also jumps into action locally, large disasters across the country require plenty of resources. For example, there are currently hundreds of volunteers still out east since the wreckage of hurricanes Milton and Helene.

“I just actually returned from North Carolina earlier this Fall,” recalled Reuland. “I responded after the hurricanes struck out there. Seeing everybody come from different backgrounds and doing what they can to provide opportunity and shelter and just comfort to those that have been displaced by disaster is a very rewarding experience.”

They don’t yet have an exact number of how many South Dakotans have answered the call to volunteer this time, in part because the situation is evolving and each day, Reuland sees more volunteers ready to be sent. They will also likely be sending a vehicle and trailer with supplies this upcoming week to help meet the needs of those left with nothing.

“The American Red Cross’ primary goal right now is ensuring that everybody has a safe place to stay at night and that they’re being fed and have food opportunities from being displaced,” Reuland explained.

Some of the biggest ways you can help are by donating blood, giving financially or volunteering.

If you have questions or you want to help the American Red Cross’ disaster relief efforts you can visit RedCross.org or call 1-800-Red-Cross.