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Murder Suspect Out On Bond

Kealey Bultena
/
SDPB

The man accused of killing his girlfriend’s two-year-old in Sioux Falls earlier this month is out of jail on bond. He was officially charged with murder Monday.

South Dakota authorities say 27-year-old Joey Patterson abused 2-year-old Tyrese Ruffin on October 9th. The toddler died two days later. Patterson was arraigned on charges Monday in Lincoln County on an October 18th grand jury indictment.

"The indictment has charged Patterson with second degree murder and alternative counts of first degree manslaughter, as well as a count of aggravated battery of an infant and abuse or cruelty to a minor," Lincoln County State's Attorney Tom Wollman says.

Wollman says Patterson’s bond was originally higher than what he posted to get out of jail.

"We argued to the court that Mr. Patterson was a danger to the community and, further, that we believed that he was a flight risk," Wollman says. "The judge heard arguments from defense counsel as well and ultimately lowered the defendant’s bond from $1 million to $750,000 cash or surety."

Wollman says Patterson’s family provided a surety check for $750,000 Tuesday morning, and Patterson left the Lincoln County jail.

Several court dates are set for motions and reviews in this case. The criminal trial is set to begin in February of 2014.

Wollman says Patterson faces a maximum of a mandatory life sentence if convicted of the murder charge. The manslaughter charge carries up to life in the state penitentiary, and the lower felony charges are also punishable by prison time.

Tags
News murderSioux Falls & Minnehaha County, South DakotaCanton & Lincoln County, South Dakota
Kealey Bultena grew up in South Dakota, where her grandparents took advantage of the state’s agriculture at nap time, tricking her into car rides to “go see cows.” Rarely did she stay awake long enough to see the livestock, but now she writes stories about the animals – and the legislature and education and much more. Kealey worked in television for four years while attending the University of South Dakota. She started interning with South Dakota Public Broadcasting in September 2010 and accepted a position with television in 2011. Now Kealey is the radio news producer stationed in Sioux Falls. As a multi-media journalist, Kealey prides herself on the diversity of the stories she tells and the impact her work has on people across the state. Kealey is always searching for new ideas. Let her know of a great story! Find her on Facebook and twitter (@KealeySDPB).