SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO.com) — The Associated Press provides some additional details to Governor Kristi Noem’s Thursday morning release on firings within the state Department of Corrections. See below.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) —South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem has fired the warden and deputy warden of the state penitentiary in Sioux Falls after an investigation into an anonymous complaint. The complaint alleges that supervising corrections officers regularly sexually harassed their fellow employees and that attempts to report harassment were ignored.
The governor had suspended Darin Young, the former warden, on Tuesday, along with Secretary of Corrections Mike Leidholt. Noem said Thursday she has also suspended Stefany Bawek, who was the director of a prison work program called Pheasantland Industries.
Requests for comment left at phone numbers listed for Young, Jennifer Dreiske, the former deputy warden, and Bawek were not immediately returned.
(Story updated at 11:16 a.m., 7/15/21 by the Associated Press.)
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PIERRE, S.D. (KELO.com) – Thursday, Governor Kristi Noem announced additional personnel decisions regarding the South Dakota Department of Corrections.
State Penitentiary Warden Darin Young and Deputy Warden Jennifer Dreiske have been terminated following continued investigation by the South Dakota Bureau of Human Resources.
As was announced on Tuesday, July 13, Deputy Secretary Doug Clark has stepped in as acting warden until a longer-term interim can be named. Additionally, Director of Pheasantland Industries Stefany Bawek has been placed on administrative leave.
Interim Secretary of Corrections Tim Reisch, Bureau of Human Resources Commissioner Darin Seeley, and Secretary of Social Services Laurie Gill are continuing their work to support this ongoing investigation.
No further comment will be made at this time.
(The Governor’s Office contributed this report/news release.)
