The prisoners were convicted of attempted murder

SIOUX FALLS, SD (KELO) – A jury found two inmates guilty of assaulting two corrections officers at a South Dakota penitentiary in 2023.

Lester M. Monroe, 49, was found guilty of attempted first-degree murder of a law enforcement officer and aggravated assault of a Department of Corrections employee, according to South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley. Kyle Jones, 31, was also found guilty of one count of attempted murder.

“This was a brutal attack on two of our corrections officers, including one who was punched more than 70 times, while doing his job,” Attorney General Jackley said in a news release. “Violence in prison will not be tolerated and offenders will be held accountable.”

Both were convicted Friday by a Minnehaha County Superior Court jury after a week-long trial. They will hear the verdict later.

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