The Lyon County Sheriff’s Office has released additional details surrounding the recent burglary at the Lyon County Courthouse.
Sheriff Brian Hilt says the sheriff’s office had no prior interactions with either suspect. Investigators believe the individuals had only a distant connection to the area and had been inside the courthouse previously, but officials say it would be speculative to determine a specific motive beyond taking advantage of an opportunity to commit the crime.
The investigation ultimately led law enforcement across state lines. Sheriff Hilt says assistance from the FBI was requested due to existing professional relationships and the suspects’ movement into South Dakota, including the possibility that they were on or near reservation land. That cooperation helped authorities identify and locate the suspects.
According to the sheriff’s office, the suspects were tracked to South Dakota after investigators learned they had traveled to the Whitewood area. South Dakota law enforcement later located the suspects in Spearfish after a vehicle connected to the case was reported stolen and linked to their movements. The suspects were taken into custody shortly after 1 a.m. on December 20th.
Officials say the suspects are currently being held in South Dakota while awaiting extradition to Lyon County. The timing of that transfer remains uncertain, as it could depend on whether charges in South Dakota must be addressed first.
The sheriff’s office says the total cost of damage at the courthouse has not yet been finalized. Warrants were filed once investigators determined the damage threshold for criminal charges had been met, with final costs to be calculated after cleanup and repairs are completed.
Sheriff Hilt also addressed concerns about personal information potentially being compromised during the burglary. He says departments are reviewing video footage and records, but at this time, any potential exposure appears to be very limited in scope and does not include Social Security numbers.
The Lyon County Sheriff’s Office says additional information will be released as it becomes available.
