Sioux Falls Man Pleads Guilty to Manslaughter
Juan Carlos Flores entered a guilty plea following the 2024 death of Alonzo Little.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Financial Crime
Juan Carlos Flores pleaded guilty on October 21, 2026, to one count of first-degree manslaughter. The charges follow the death of 39-year-old Alonzo Little, whom Flores stabbed in a northwestern Sioux Falls home in December 2024.
Why it matters
The plea concludes the state's case against Flores, who faces up to life imprisonment for the charge. Prosecutors dropped multiple additional charges, including first-degree murder and grand theft, as part of the agreement.
Flores is currently being held at the Minnehaha County jail following his arrest in December 2024. Evidence recovered from the scene included two steak knives and two large knives found hidden on a kitchen cabinet.
The players
Juan Carlos Flores
He is the defendant who pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter in the death of Alonzo Little.
Alonzo Little
He was the 39-year-old victim who died following an incident in a home in northwestern Sioux Falls.
Minnehaha County jail
This is the correctional facility where the defendant has been held since his December 2024 arrest.
The details
Flores stabbed Alonzo Little in the throat during a fight involving drug use just one week after the two met on a dating app. Following the incident, police arrested Flores in the victim's car after he crashed the vehicle while attempting to flee.
Timeline
December 2024: Flores stabbed the victim and was booked into the Minnehaha County jail.
October 21, 2026: Flores entered a guilty plea to one count of first-degree manslaughter.
Legal Context
The plea marks a standard application of South Dakota first-degree manslaughter statutes, which allow for sentences up to life imprisonment. This case follows local trends where violent crimes involving domestic or social disputes are processed through structured plea negotiations.
The resolution of this case closes a violent incident that occurred within a Sioux Falls residence. Residents are reminded of the inherent safety risks associated with meeting individuals from dating apps in private settings.
The takeaway
This case highlights the life-altering consequences of domestic violence occurring between acquaintances who meet online. Individuals are encouraged to exercise caution when meeting new people and to prioritize their personal safety in social interactions.
Further reading
For more information on legal proceedings in the area, see Sioux Falls Financial Crime.
