SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) - The Minnehaha County Commission has rejected a request by a Sioux Falls man who pleaded guilty to manslaughter to forgive nearly $80,000 in public defender legal fees.
With credit for time served in a juvenile detention center, Alex Lingor was given 65 days in jail after pleading guilty to second-degree manslaughter, aggravated assault and distribution of marijuana to a minor following the 2017 death of 15-year-old Kareem Cisse.
The teen was killed when he crashed into a tree while Lingor was chasing him for stealing some marijuana.
In a letter to the commission, Lingor said he’s is in the process of purchasing a home in Sioux Falls with a friend and is unable to move forward with the transaction because of the lien the county is holding against him.
County commissioners rejected the request with a 4-0 vote.
Commissioner Jeff Barth said in a typical request for a compromise of lien, officials like to see some effort by the applicant to make payments for a period of time.
Documents obtained by the Argus Leader show Lingor hasn’t made any payments toward his public defender’s fees.
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