Jackley: Punishment for threats to Gov. Noem, judge highlight need for stiffer penalties

Wagner man will not serve prison time after making death threats

A Wagner man who threatened Gov. Kristi Noem and a judge can thank a sweeping overhaul of the state’s criminal justice system for keeping him out of jail.

Jason Shields, 40, pleaded guilty Friday but mentally ill for threatening Noem and Magistrate Judge Donna Bucher. Bucher is a judge in the state’s First Judicial Circuit.

Shields sent a fax to a TV station on Oct. 23, 2022 saying that he was working with other people on a plan to kill Noem. A day earlier he had emailed Bucher saying he wanted to kill her for making unjust decisions. Authorities later determined that he was acting alone.

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