Woman gets two and half years in prison for helping accused killer flee state, evade police

A 24-year-old woman was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for her in a shooting that left a man dead outside a Sioux Falls casino.

Mercedes Joyce Red Bear pleaded guilty in August to a charge of accessory to a felony, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.

Red Bear admitted to driving Jared Stone from Sioux Falls to Worthington and Luverne, Minn., after he allegedly killed Baptise White Eyes in a shooting outside of Lucky Lady’s Casino on West 10th Street near South Summit Avenue in April.

Stone hid in the trunk of a car during the drive. Red Bear booked a hotel in Luverne under her name in order for Stone to avoid detection.

She was arrested soon after.

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• Five things to know about Jared Stone
• Police to Stone: 'It's time to come in'