State v. Robert

GILBERTSON, Chief Justice.

[¶ 1.] Eric Robert pleaded guilty to first-degree murder for the death of penitentiary guard Ronald Johnson, a 23-year veteran correctional officer at the South Dakota State Penitentiary in Sioux Falls. Robert waived his right to a jury’s determination of whether the death sentence would be imposed. The circuit court conducted a pre-sentence hearing and imposed the death penalty. Subsequent to pleading guilty, Robert has consistently sought imposition of the death penalty and that the execution be expedited. Even though Robert waived his right to appeal the death…