Sioux Falls man changes plea in 2020 homicide case
A man set to go to trial for the 2020 murder of a Sioux Falls man has changed his plea in the case, according to court documents.
Rashaun Guest, 25, of Sioux Falls, had a change of plea hearing on Friday at the Minnehaha County Courthouse.
Guest was charged with first- and second-degree murder along with first-degree manslaughter. Guest took a plea deal and skipped his jury trial by pleading guilty to first-degree manslaughter, according to court documents.
The charges stemmed from the July 26, 2020 shooting death of Lamar Hood, 31. The victim was shot "numerous times" and later died at a hospital, according to prior reporting by the Argus Leader.
First-degree manslaughter, a class C felony, carries a sentence of up to life in prison. By taking the plea deal, Guest avoids being possibly convicted by a jury of first-degree murder that has a mandatory life-sentence without the possibility of parole.
His sentencing will be at the judge's discretion if he's given less than life. He'll also have the possibility of parole should that happen.
Guest was arrested alongside Skylar Jorgensen, 24, from Sioux Falls. She is charged with accessory to a felony in connection to Hood's death.
Police at the time of the pair's arrest said the homicide was not a random act. Both Guest and Jorgensen knew Hood. After the shooting, the pair fled the scene.
They were found at separate locations in Sioux Falls the night of Hood's death and taken into custody without incident with the help of SWAT. Multiple firearms were also recovered by police during the arrests, police said at the time.
A sentencing date for Guest has not been scheduled. Jorgensen is scheduled for a jury trial on Feb. 28, according to court documents.
Got a story idea from your community? Email reporter Alfonzo Galvan at agalvan@argusleader.com or follow him on Twitter @GalvanReports.
This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Sioux Falls man changes plea in 2020 homicide case
