An acquittal was given for the prisoners in the attempted murder case

SIOUX FALLS, SD (KELO) — A jury found two South Dakota Department of Corrections inmates guilty of assaulting two correctional officers in 2023.

Inmates Lester M. Monroe, 49, were found guilty of Attempted First Degree Murder of a Law Enforcement Officer and Aggravated Assault on a Correctional Institution 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 violent attack on two correctional officers, including one officer who was struck more than 70 times,” Attorney General Jackley said in a press release. “Violence in prison will not be tolerated and criminals will be held accountable.”

The two were convicted by a Minnehaha Circuit Court Jury on Friday after a week-long trial. They will be sentenced at a later date.

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