The South Dakota Supreme Court has upheld the life sentence of Jonathon Klinetobe, the Rapid City man who enlisted two other men to murder his ex-girlfriend in 2015.

Klinetobe pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter, and in December 2019, the judge imposed the maximum sentence of life without parole.

A month later, Klinetobe argued to the Supreme Court that the sentence was too harsh.

In its opinion issued Thursday, April 15, the Supreme Court disagrees.

Victoria Wicks has more of this story for SDPB.