Redwood County jury finds South Dakota man guilty of trespass at casino

A South Dakota man, Anthony Aldon Johns, 48, of Box Elder, has been found guilty of two counts of trespass according to Redwood County Attorney Jenna Peterson.

According to court documents on March 15,  2020, at about 5:30 p.m., the Lower Sioux Police Department was contacted by Jackpot  Junction Casino security personnel. Casino staff explained that two months earlier, on Jan. 4, Johns had been forbidden from the property for six months.  He returned to the casino and had been  asked by Security staff to leave, but was refusing. When officers  arrived they found Johns at a slot machine on the casino floor and made contact.  Johns became defensive and refused to leave. Officers again explained to Johns he needed to leave because he was legally trespassed from the property, and Johns eventually left. 

Assistant Redwood County Attorney Tom Borgen, told the jury  in his closing argument, “Mr. Johns was told multiple times that he was trespassed and to leave,  and he kept coming back. Jackpot gave him multiple chances before a charge was issued.”  

Johns will be sentenced on June 5, 2023, at the Redwood County Courthouse.