Rapid City Justice: Two Men Sentenced for 2025 Fatal Beating

Joshua Thunder Hawk, 25, walked out of the Rapid City courtroom on Wednesday with a 40-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to aiding and abetting first-degree manslaughter. Prosecutors had identified him as the primary aggressor in the 2025 beating that killed 24-year-old Michael Ladeaux. The sentence reflects the severity of his role in the assault, which ended Ladeaux's life just a year ago.

In a related case handled the same day, Dustin Yatsayte received a 15-year prison term. He also pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting first-degree manslaughter. As part of his plea agreement, Yatsayte admitted to kicking Ladeaux during the incident. Both men had previously faced charges stemming from the same event that shocked the Rapid City community.

The cases conclude the legal proceedings for the two men involved in Ladeaux's death. The prosecutor's office noted that the pleas allowed for a swift resolution to the sentencing phase of the trial. The specific details of the beating, including the physical evidence and witness accounts, formed the basis for the guilty pleas accepted by the court.

Ladeaux was 24 years old at the time of his death. The incident occurred in 2025, leading to a thorough investigation by local authorities. The sentencing marks the final stage of the judicial process for these two defendants, providing a formal conclusion to their individual cases.

Other local legal matters also concluded this week. In a separate fatal incident, police identified 19-year-old Jason Brave as the victim of a shooting on Oct. 27 in the 1500 block of Kellog Place. Investigators determined that 19-year-old Antwon Longvisitor was the shooter based on witness interviews and physical evidence recovered during the probe.

Additionally, the driver of a vehicle involved in a fatal rollover on Skyline Drive on Oct. 23 has been identified as 19-year-old Maricel Barrientos. One occupant of the vehicle died from injuries sustained in the crash. Barrientos was arrested and charged with one count of Vehicular Homicide and one count of Vehicular Battery.

These decisions place the defendants in the state prison system for the next several years. The sentences for Thunder Hawk and Yatsayte stand as the final legal determinations for their respective roles in the 2025 fatal assault.