But his release is still years away.įollowing a hearing seeking relief, Kihega was sentenced to 40 years in prison with 20 years suspended. Thursday’s hearing was an attempt to seek relief with sentencing, which was granted after some consideration. He was also sentenced to five years in prison for attempted witness tampering, which is to be served consecutive to the robbery conviction.Īn appeal to the South Dakota Supreme Court seeking an acquittal, new trial or new sentencing was rejected in 2017. 18, 2015 and sentenced to 50 years in prison with 12 years suspended and credit for 224 days served. They left through the back door with $4,600 after both fired a shot in the air, according to a synopsis of the case issued by the South Dakota Supreme Court. A second man involved in the robbery took a plea agreement and provided testimony at trial. Kihega, 38, of Cokato, was convicted at trial of the January 2015 robbery of Casino Korner. A Minnesota man who originally denied his involvement in a 2015 casino robbery in Aberdeen accepted responsibility for the crime last week at a hearing seeking a reduced sentence.
