FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, April 29, 2016
CONTACT: Sara Rabern (605) 773-3215
Eight South Dakota Women’s Prison Inmates Back in Court Today
PIERRE, S.D. – Attorney General Marty Jackley announced today that the eight inmates from the South Dakota Women’s Prison indicted on drug related charges appeared in court today. “Recognizing our prison system’s duel role of punishment with the opportunity for rehabilitation, inmates are expected to follow the prison rules and the law. I want to thank the prison officials and staff for their assistance and full cooperation during this investigation,” said Jackley. Sixth Circuit Judge John L. Brown made the following rulings:
Loretta Ann Flute, age 34
Flute was sentenced to one additional year in jail (consecutive to her original conviction) for her conviction of Ingestion of a Controlled Substance, charged in Count III of the indictment. Flute pled guilty to the charge in a change of plea hearing held March 2, 2016. Ingestion of a Controlled Substance is a class 5 felony with a maximum penalty of 5 years and a $10,000 dollar fine. In addition to the custody, Flute was required to pay cost and restitution of $159.00.
Cassandra Bernard, age 36
Michaela Mousseau, age 36
Shauntel Shangreaux, age 21
Mary Sierra, age 26
These four inmates pled guilty to one count of Ingestion of a Controlled Substance (methamphetamine) a class 5 felony, punishable by up to 5 years imprisonment and/or a $10,000 fine.
Sylvia Bordeaux, age 29
Dawn Mesteth, age 39
Bordeaux and Mesteth appeared before Judge Brown and entered not guilty pleas to the charges of Ingestion of a Controlled Substance (methamphetamine), and also not guilty pleas to Part II Information charging these two inmates with being Habitual Offenders.
Britney Aguilar, age 24
Aguilar appeared in court and entered not guilty pleas to three charged felonies. Those charges include one count of Distribution of a Controlled Substance (methamphetamine) and Aiding and Abetting, a class 4 felony; one count of Delivery of Unauthorized Contraband or Article to an Inmate, a class 6 felony, and Ingestion of a Controlled Substance (methamphetamine) a class 5 felony. Aguilar also entered a not guilty plea to a Part II Information charging her with being a Habitual Offender.
The indictment charges that on or about between November 3 and November 4, 2015, Aguilar delivered and distributed methamphetamine to inmates Flute, Shangreaux, Mesteth, Mousseau, Bordeaux, Sierra and Bernard at the South Dakota Women’s Prison and they were all subsequently indicted on ingestion charges based on drug testing done by the South Dakota Health Laboratory
These individuals who have not pled guilty, are presumed innocent until such time as proven guilty or plead guilty. This case is being investigated by the Division of Criminal Investigation and prosecuted by the South Dakota Attorney General’s Office.
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