Pine Ridge Man Guilty of Second Degree Murder

United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that Kyle C. Yankton, age 21, of Pine Ridge, appeared before U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Viken on November 27, 2012, and pled guilty to a charge of Second Degree Murder. The penalty upon conviction is any term of years up to life imprisonment and/or a $250,000 fine.

In June 2012, Yankton struck another person in the head several times with a baseball bat, killing him. The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah B. Collins.

A presentence investigation was ordered, and a sentencing date was set for April 1, 2013. The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending sentencing.