SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) – A Sioux Falls man will spend the rest of his life in prison.
On Thursday afternoon, Judge Jennifer D. Mammenga sentenced Darrian Johnson to life in prison plus 105 years for other charges.
In court, the Mammenga called Johnson quote ‘a tremendous risk to the community.’
Johnson shot 26-year-old Kaisean Tyler four times at close range in a Sioux Falls apartment in September 2022. According to the Minnehaha County State’s Attorney, Tyler was in an apartment of a woman with whom Johnson had a relationship with.
Friday is the three-year anniversary of the crime.
In May of this year, Johnson was convicted for that murder as well as two counts of domestic aggravated assault, three counts of domestic simple assault and five counts of violating a protection or no contact order.
Flash forward to today and Johnson learned his fate for the crimes. However, before his sentencing he told the court quote ‘I feel and I know that I am innocent.’ He also argued that racial bias was thrown at him throughout the court proceedings.
Judge Mammenga told Johnson that one of her biggest concerns with him was that he continuously blamed everyone around him but never took accountability for his own actions. She said he also has a history of explosive anger and abuse towards women.
Judge Mammenga said she believes if Johnson was released, he’d kill again.
Johnson also argued that he was denied due process and equal protection throughout the court proceedings, saying he wanted to file a motion for a new trial, which the judge advised he could do after the sentencing.
Johnson was supposed to be sentenced last week but Mammenga had to delay it because he asked for a continuance, claiming he was falsely charged and inaccurate statements were made against him in court.
Johnson’s crime was highlighted by Mayor Paul TenHaken during a crime data briefing in 2022.
TenHaken cited the 2022 Labor Day homicide case in Sioux Falls as an illustration of what law enforcement deals with. He described the suspect as a parolee absconder who got ahold of a gun. TenHaken said the suspect had been sentenced to multiple years in prison last year but was released on parole after a few months.
