An East River stabbing death orbiting two teenagers has ended with a plea agreement. The Charles Mix County case will see a 17-year-old defendant plead guilty to manslaughter.
The incident occurred in Spring of 2023, where the defendant is accused of stabbing a 16-year-old in the community of Wagner.
The victim is known only by the initials “A.K.”, and the defendant, 17-year-old Gabe Montgomery, was tried as an adult in the case.
Some reporters were barred from the courthouse during the hearing. Namely, journalists from the Mitchell Republic were denied access to the procedure on account of the situation being a “juvenile matter.”
With the trial taking place in circuit court and the defendant tried as an adult, the courtroom should have been open to both the public and media outlets.
Ultimately, State’s Attorney Steve Cotton issued a formal apology for the error, describing it as a mistake on behalf of the jailer. Cotton adds “The reporter 100 percent should have been allowed in the courtroom.”
It’s a sentiment echoed by the South Dakota NewsMedia Association. Executive Director Dave Bordewyk said it's critical to keep courtrooms open for adult-level cases. He said, “Public court proceedings are important for maintaining the public’s confidence in the fairness and accountability of the judicial system.”
First degree manslaughter is a class C felony which carries a maximum penalty of life in prison.
The Mitchell Republic reports the family agreed with this plea deal, and sentencing recommendations are expected to be a 50-year sentence with 30 years suspended. The minimum recommended sentence would be a decade in prison.
Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 31, 2025.