Pennington County will host Hoek capital murder trial

Pennington County will be the new location for the capital murder trial of Joseph Hoek, the man accused of intentionally killing Moody County Deputy Sheriff Ken Prorok during a high-speed chase.
The decision was made late last week following the most recent status hearing in the case. Earlier this month, Third Judicial Circuit Judge Gregory Stoltenburg ordered the trial moved out of Moody County over concerns about jury bias and Hoeks ability to receive a fair trial.
The trial is scheduled to begin Sept. 21, 2026, and could last up to five weeks.
Holding, transport, expert witnesses, and other related costs continue to add up for Moody County taxpayers. At a recent meeting of the Moody County Commission, officials said current expenses tied to the case are nearing $500,000.
Hoek will remain held locally until shortly before his trial begins in Rapid City. Hearings between now and then will likely be done virtually.
Theres a chance the county could recover some of those expenses potentially up to 90% through a shared fund used by counties across the state for major cases like this. Commissioner Jerry Doyle cautioned, however, that reimbursement depends on whats left in the fund when the county files its claim, as several other high-profile cases are also drawing from it.
The criminal justice system needs to take into account not just the defendants Constitutional rights, but also those of the victims and their families, Attorney General Jackley stated in a press release.
I am prepared to try this case before a Pennington County jury in September of 2026, or at the earliest date the system will allow.