Work-Release Inmate Escapes Sioux Falls Facility
A state prison offender left a nonsecure work-release facility in Sioux Falls without authorization, and a search is underway.
Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in Financial Crime
A minimum-custody work-release inmate housed at the St. Francis House in Sioux Falls left the facility without authorization on November 11. Authorities are searching for the man, who is serving a sentence from Davison County.
Why it matters
Leaving a nonsecure correctional facility without authorization is classified as second-degree escape, a Class 5 felony. Residents of Sioux Falls may be asked to report any sighting to law enforcement while the search continues.
The inmate is the subject of an active search after leaving the facility on November 11, and no arrest has been reported. The charge tied to his departure, second-degree escape, is a Class 5 felony, and whether additional charges will be filed has not been stated.
The players
St. Francis House
St. Francis House is a Sioux Falls facility that houses work-release participants serving state sentences.
The details
The man is a minimum-custody offender housed at the St. Francis House for work release purposes. He left the facility without authorization, and officials have released a physical description to aid the search.
Timeline
November 11, 2026: the inmate left the St. Francis House without authorization.
November 12, 2026: the search for the inmate was underway.
Legal Context
Under South Dakota law, leaving a nonsecure correctional facility without authorization is treated as second-degree escape, a Class 5 felony. The classification applies the same penalty tier to work-release departures as to other failures to return to custody.
Residents in Sioux Falls who spot a man matching the inmate's description should contact law enforcement rather than approach him. The St. Francis House is a nonsecure facility, so the search is focused on locating the man rather than securing the building.
The takeaway
Unauthorized departures from work-release programs carry felony exposure even when the underlying sentence is for a lesser offense. Readers who spot the man should report it promptly to local authorities.
Further reading
Browse more Financial Crime coverage from across the region.
Source note: This article includes information reported by 95.7 KELO-FM.
