FORT PIERRE — Sixth Circuit Judge Margo Northup has denied a motion filed by a man convicted for his involvement in the 1996 murder of Michael Hare in Stanley County. Shawn Springer motioned the court that his sentence in the case is illegal and should be corrected. Springer was 16 at the time and was sentenced to 261 years in prison. A second teen, Paul Jensen was found guilty and sentenced to life without parole for shooting Hare with a pistol three times. Jensen was 14 at time. His sentence was overturned to 200 years after it was ruled unconstitutional. As a result, Jensen will be parole eligible before Springer later this year. Springer is not parole eligible until 2029. In her Memorandum Decision filed in the case, Northrup ruled that the 261 year sentence is not grossly disproportionate to the gravity of the offenses involved including kidnapping, robbery and murder. Springer has filed three motions to correct an illegal sentence since 2012 with each motion being denied by the Court.
