Paul Dean Jensen Resentenced to 200 Years
PIERRE, S.D.- Attorney General Marty Jackley announced today that Circuit Court Judge John Brown has resentenced Paul Dean Jensen to 200 years. Jensen will be eligible for parole in 2021 in accordance with the old law.
Jensen argued that his sentence was illegal under the U.S. Supreme Court decision banning mandatory life sentences for juveniles.
Jensen was convicted in 1996 by a jury of first degree murder for the death of Michael Hare, a Pierre, South Dakota taxicab driver. Jensen kidnapped, robbed, and murdered Hare for his cab fare, a total of $36.48. Jensen was 14 at the time of the murder.
This case was handled by the Stanley County States Attorney and the Attorney General’s Office.
Sickening.
What, how he slaughtered the cab driver or that he got so much time?
Jensen’s poor attempt at an apology to the family of Michael Hare shows his continued lack of remorse in the execution-style killing some 20 years ago. The deflection of guilt by his “circumstances” is vile. I’ve known many people raised in worse conditions by far more dysfunctional families who have never executed a man. Jensen is where he belongs; I pray that in the next five years he accepts full responsibility for his own actions. In 2021, let the parole board be blessed with wisdom and deny him parole!