Marty Jackley
Jackley calls for study and new laws to protect children from AI exploitation
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley and colleagues from 53 states and territories are asking congressional leaders to create an expert panel on how artificial intelligence is to used to exploit children. “Artificial intelligence has its benefits, but there is also potential for serious harm that we are now experiencing with several investigations in South […]
Former prison employee’s conviction is a rare occurrence in South Dakota
A 42-year old former correctional officer who pressed his thumb into the neck of a strapped-down, mentally ill prison inmate was convicted by a jury of simple assault against an inmate last month. Cases like those against Joshua S. Westenkirchner, of Harrisburg, are rare in South Dakota. Few correctional officers are charged criminally for assaulting […]
South Dakotans can now sign up for consumer alerts, attorney general says
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announced Wednesday that the public can now receive consumer alerts via email from the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division. The alert system will provide subscribers with information about consumer scams and tips on how to protect against scams, Jackley said in a news release. People can register for the […]
Nebraska, South Dakota, Iowa join fight against legal doctrine on federal regulatory authority
LINCOLN — Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers recently joined counterparts in 26 other states in urging the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn or clarify a legal precedent that could have major implications for federal regulatory authority. Nebraska, South Dakota and Iowa are among the 27 states that joined a July 24 filing to the Supreme […]
Senator accused of illegally pocketing COVID funds cooperating with state
Attorney General Marty Jackley says a Rapid City state senator accused of illegally accepting more than $600,000 in COVID relief funds is working to resolve the situation. Monday was the Jackley-imposed deadline for Sen. Jessica Castleberry, R-Rapid City, to either pay back the $603,219 in funds she collected for her daycare business, Little Nest Preschool, […]
Criminal cases point to troubling spread of computer-generated child pornography
A Rapid City man was recently sentenced to six years in federal prison for the possession of computer-generated child pornography. Less than a month before that, another man was found guilty of the same crime, and still another was sentenced to five years for it last October. One other case involving artificial depictions of child […]
Impact of landmark sales tax case difficult to calculate five years later
South Dakota has pulled in more than $416 million in sales tax revenue from “remote sellers” since winning a case in the U.S. Supreme Court over the right to collect it. That figure, however, does not represent the financial impact of South Dakota vs. Wayfair, which five years ago paved the way for states all […]
Deputy cleared of misconduct in death of Native American man in Lake Andes jail
The Charles Mix County sheriff’s deputy who arrested Robert “Berta” Enoch before his death by overdose in a Lake Andes jail will not be reprimanded for his actions. That was the decision of the South Dakota Law Enforcement Officers Standards Commission on Thursday in Pierre during a hearing for 31-year-old Jon Werkmeister. Enoch, a 35-year-old […]
Anti-abortion group sues South Dakota over campaign finance requirements
A Virginia anti-abortion group wants a federal judge to strike down a South Dakota law that requires nonprofit organizations to list their top five donors on political messaging. Students for Life of America is a nonprofit advocacy group launched in 2006, with an aim to educate and connect anti-abortion students with messaging tools and one […]
Federal judge temporarily blocks new Biden WOTUS rule in two dozen states
A federal judge in North Dakota on Wednesday blocked in 24 states — including South Dakota — the Biden administration’s newly effective definition of waters that can be regulated under the Clean Water Act. U.S. District Judge Daniel Hovland, a George W. Bush appointee on retired status in the North Dakota District, issued a preliminary […]
Truth in sentencing bill advances to full Senate
A bill to lengthen prison stays for violent offenders earned an endorsement from all but one member of the Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday morning. Senate Bill 146 saw testimony from nine supporters beyond its prime sponsor, Sen. Brent Hoffman, R-Sioux Falls, including police chiefs, sheriffs and Attorney General Marty Jackley. The bill would abolish parole […]
First of multiple ‘truth in sentencing’ bills to see debate Tuesday morning
Repeat offenders and people who commit violent crimes would serve more time if lawmakers pass one of the “truth in sentencing” bills on the legislative docket this session. Sen. Brent Hoffman, R-Sioux Falls, worked with Minnehaha County State’s Attorney Daniel Haggar and other criminal justice officials to draft Senate Bill 146. The bill is set […]