Charles Beeney is back in Sioux Falls, this time as an inmate at the state penitentiary.
Beeney escaped from a Beadle County jail early Tuesday morning. Police caught him in Sioux Falls Tuesday night.
Beeney arrived back in Beadle County just in time for a scheduled court appearance Wednesday. He had already pleaded guilty to leading authorities on a chase in a stolen vehicle in December. The chase ended when Beeney crashed in a Jerauld County field.
A judge gave him the maximum two year sentence on Wednesday for that crime.
"I think Mr. Beeney has proven to himself that he's not willing to follow the rules and needs to be punished for it," Jerauld County Sheriff Jason Weber said.
Beeney’s Wednesday hearing wasn't related to his recent escape from jail, but it came up in the courtroom. The judge told Beeney he'd ordered a pre-sentence investigation but the court learned a lot about him over the past couple days.
But putting the recent threats and the escape aside, Weber says Beeney earned Wednesday’s sentence. Beeney was the only one injured during the December chase. Others easily could have been.
"There are a lot of dangers involved and a lot of dangers involved to the general public," Weber said.
Now in the penitentiary, Beeney won't be around that public anytime soon.
Beadle County hasn't filed charges against Beeney for his escape yet. A deputy states attorney said he isn't sure when that will happen.
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