2/8/12
by Perry Miller
The South Dakota Supreme Court upholds the sentence of a Brookings
man convicted of raping three women in 2010.
Chris Jones pleaded guilty to kidnapping and three counts of
second degree rape as part of a plea deal. Five additional counts
were dismissed and the state agreed to a cap of 70-years in prison.
Jones was given a total of 80-years and appealed, claiming a
violation of the plea deal.
The Supreme Court, in a ruling issued Friday, said Jones had to object
at the time of the sentencing and did not. He instead filed a motion some
three weeks later.
The Court also says the sentence is well within the maximum allowed
by law and is not "grossly disproportionate" given Jones's conduct.
Jones assaulted three women at knifepoint in Brookings between
March 28th and April 20th of 2010. Two incidents were on the SDSU
campus. The third woman was kidnapped from a Brookings
residence.
Jones will first be eligible for parole in about 49-years.
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