RAPID CITY - The Rapid City man who pleaded guilty June 12 to
a January stabbing outside Teddy's Sports Grill withdrew his plea
Wednesday at a hearing that was supposed to be his
sentencing.
Christopher Joyner, 34, withdrew his guilty plea Tuesday to
two counts of attempted aggravated assault and one count of
aggravated assault.
When Joyner pleaded guilty June 12, prosecutors dropped his
original charges of six counts of aggravated assault.
He will now go to trial on those original charges and faces up
to 90 years in prison if convicted.
With the plea agreement, Joyner would have faced up to 30
years when sentenced.
Joyner is accused of stabbing six people Jan. 20 between
Teddy's and the Radisson Hotel on Main Street in Rapid City.
Jennifer Utter, deputy state's attorney for Pennington County,
objected to the withdrawal.
Seventh Circuit Judge Thomas Trimble allowed Joyner to
withdraw his plea and set a three-day trial in the case to begin
July 31.
Joyner remains in custody at Pennington County Jail.
Contact Katie Brown at 394-8318 or
katie.brown@rapidcityjournal.com
