State v. Longchase

2025 S.D. 61
South Dakota Supreme Court·Decided November 5, 2025·No. 30944·Published

Opinion

#30944-a-MES 2025 S.D. 61

IN THE SUPREME COURT

OF THE

STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA

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STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA, Plaintiff and Appellee, v.

SOLOMAN B. LONGCHASE, Defendant and Appellant.

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APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SIXTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT HYDE COUNTY, SOUTH DAKOTA

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THE HONORABLE MARGO D. NORTHRUP Judge

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JUSTIN L. BELL of May, Adam, Gerdes & Thompson LLP Pierre, South Dakota Attorneys for defendant and appellant.

MARTY J. JACKLEY Attorney General

ERIN E. HANDKE Assistant Attorney General Pierre, South Dakota Attorneys for plaintiff and appellee.

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CONSIDERED ON BRIEFS

OCTOBER 7, 2025

OPINION FILED 11/05/25

SALTER, Justice [¶1.] Soloman Longchase appeals the circuit court’s denial of his motion to dismiss his indictment based on an asserted speedy trial violation. Longchase also disputes the constitutionality of the circuit court’s order requiring him to reimburse the county for court-appointed attorney fees. We affirm.

Factual and Procedural History [¶2.] On September 21, 2022, the Hyde County State’s Attorney filed a criminal complaint charging Soloman Longchase with (1) aggravated assault (domestic), (2) aggravated kidnapping, (3) grand theft, (4) interference with emergency communication, and (5) false impersonation to deceive law enforcement. All five charges arose from conduct that occurred on August 20, 2022.1 The same day the criminal complaint was filed, the Hyde County State’s Attorney requested a warrant for Longchase’s arrest, which the court issued the next day. [¶3.] The warrant listed Longchase’s last known location as the Hughes County Jail, where he was being held for unrelated Hughes County charges. The warrant also stated that Longchase was to be held without bond “until further order of the [c]ourt.” The record does not contain a completed return for the warrant, and it appears Longchase never made an initial appearance on the complaint.

1. Though not relevant to our disposition of the issues before us, the charges are related to a series of incidents involving Longchase and a female victim with whom he was romantically involved that occurred in rural Hyde County and in Highmore. Law enforcement reports included in the presentence investigation indicate that Longchase assaulted and held the victim against her will and, when confronted by a law enforcement officer, provided a false name, fled on foot, and later stole a pickup.

[¶4.] On December 20, 2022, a Hyde County grand jury returned a five- count indictment listing the same offenses contained in the September complaint. Nine days later, the circuit court issued a second “no bond” warrant for Longchase’s arrest. Again, this warrant identified Longchase’s last known location as the Hughes County Jail, where he continued to be held on unrelated charges. [¶5.] On January 30, 2023, the judge presiding over Longchase’s Hughes County criminal cases granted Longchase a three-day medical furlough. But Longchase did not return to custody at the end of his furlough, and Hughes County prosecutors charged him with escape. [¶6.] Longchase remained a fugitive from February 1, 2023, through December 13, 2023, when he was rearrested. He was again booked into the Hughes County Jail where he remained while awaiting the resolution of his Hughes County charges. Longchase appeared before the circuit court on April 9, 2024, for what was described as a post-indictment initial appearance on his Hyde County charges. The court set a cash bond and indicated it would appoint counsel. On this latter topic, the court advised Longchase that court-appointed counsel is “not a gift. That’s something that you would have to pay back at the conclusion of your case.” [¶7.] Longchase appeared with his appointed counsel for an arraignment on May 14, 2024. Shortly thereafter, he filed a motion to dismiss based on an alleged violation of his constitutional right to a speedy trial. After considering each of the speedy trial factors set forth in Barker v. Wingo, 407 U.S. 514 (1972), the circuit court denied his motion.

[¶8.] Significantly, Longchase and the State then entered into a written plea agreement under which Longchase agreed to plead guilty to grand theft and simple assault. In exchange, the State agreed to dismiss the remaining charges and forbear from seeking an enhanced sentence by filing a part II habitual criminal information. [¶9.] At the change of plea hearing, the circuit court reviewed Longchase’s constitutional rights with him before taking, and ultimately accepting, his guilty plea. Relevant here is the following exchange:

The court: You have the right to plead not guilty and make the State prove what it says you’ve done in the Superseding Information.

You would have a right to a speedy public trial before a jury made up of 12 citizens of Hyde County. The 12 jurors would have to agree unanimously that the State had proven each element of any charge against you beyond a reasonable doubt before you could be found guilty of the charge.

If you decide that you want to enter the written plea agreement and plead guilty . . . , of course you would be giving up your right to have a jury trial.

Do you understand that, sir?

Longchase: Yes.

(Emphasis added.) [¶10.] At sentencing, Longchase objected to the recoupment of court- appointed attorney fees as a part of his sentence. He argued that the circuit court was required to make particularized findings of fact regarding his ability to pay, and even if the court conducted an ability-to-pay analysis, he claimed that

recoupment was not authorized because he lacked the present ability to repay the court-appointed attorney fees. [¶11.] Somewhat ironically, however, Longchase—himself—acknowledged in his presentence investigation that he was inclined to work, and he suggested that part of his sentence should include the obligation to repay attorney fees. And though not specifically designated as an analysis of his ability to pay court- appointed attorney fees, the circuit court did consider Longchase’s ability to work and earn an income, including his lawyer’s argument that Longchase was capable of gainful employment and was motivated to earn money to pay restitution:

He’s had employment. He’s worked in fencing and other manual labor jobs and wants to do that, knows that there’s going to be restitution at issue in this case, wants to get back is what he would like to do as relates to getting employment, paying back that restitution, paying back society and the victims in this case as relates to this matter.

[¶12.] The circuit court essentially accepted Longchase’s assertion. It found that “Mr. Longchase indicates that he’s been employed throughout his life, I believe construction type work, and believes that he still has the ability to continue that work once he’s released from prison.” [¶13.] The court sentenced Longchase to eight years in prison with three years suspended. As for his court-appointed attorney fees, the court stated:

I think that attorney’s fees are appropriate. . . . There’s no reason that Mr. Longchase will not be able to be employed once he is out of the penitentiary and, of course, those wouldn’t be due and owing until he was out of the penitentiary to be able to work and make those payments.

[¶14.] On appeal, Longchase raises the following two issues:

1. Whether the circuit court erred when it denied Longchase’s motion to dismiss under the theory that his prosecution violated his constitutional right to a speedy trial.

2. Whether the circuit court erred when it ordered Longchase to pay court-appointed counsel fees.

Analysis and Decision

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