UPDATE: Jackley discusses charges resulting from prison uprising (Audio)
April 24, 2024
PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — Eleven inmates at the South Dakota State Penitentiary are facing charges in connection with disturbances last month at the prison in Sioux Falls, Attorney General Marty Jackley announced Tuesday.
Jackley spoke about the charges at a news conference Tuesday….
Forty five year-old Joshua Vortherms faces the most serious charges — two counts each of aggravated and simple assault against a Department of Corrections employee. He’s been incarcerated since 2019 and is serving a 15-year term for vehicular homicide.
Four inmates are charged for allegedly starting fires during the disturbances. Six inmates face property damage counts.
Here are the defendants names and the charges they face:
*** Joshua David Vortherms, 45, two counts of Aggravated Assault Against a Department of Corrections employee; and two counts of Simple Assault Against a Department of Corrections employee.
*** Lee David Bernard, 32, one count of Intentional Damage to Property.
*** Taylor Dallas Cook, 22, one count of Intentional Damage to Property.
*** Markos James Fernandez, 19, one count of Intentional Damage to Property.
*** John Welsey Lovejoy, 25, one count of Intentional Damage to Property.
*** Connor David Shockey, 20, one count of Intentional Damage to Property.
*** Michael Chaske White, 50, one count of Intentional Damage to Property.
*** James Ewing, 41, one count of Reckless Burning, and one count of Burning Within a Structure Where a Person is Lawfully Confined.
*** Curtis Carpenter, 39, one count of Reckless Burning, and one count of Burning Within a Structure Where a Person is Lawfully Confined.
*** Michael Hewitt, 41, one count of Reckless Burning, and and one count of Burning Within a Structure Where a Person is Lawfully Confined.
*** Mahlon Kirkie, 35, one count of Reckless Burning, and and one count of Burning Within a Structure Where a Person is Lawfully Confined.
Gov. Kristi Noem said last month that the disturbances happened after tablet computers were taken away from inmates because they were being used for illegal purposes.
