The subject of last spring's two-week manhunt pleaded guilty last week to escape and to assaulting a man who testified against him in federal court.

Sydney Garreau, 28, walked away March 13 from Community Alternatives of the Black Hills in Rapid City, where he had been placed after serving time in prison for brandishing a firearm during a violent crime.

On March 17, while he was on the run, Garreau, Jeremy DeCoteau, 27, and Samuel LeBeau, all of Eagle Butte, assaulted Bryan Lawrence, who had testified against Garreau in a 2000 firearms case.

On March 18, DeCoteau and Garreau were stopped by a South Dakota Highway Patrolman near Mobridge. DeCoteau allegedly assaulted the patrolman, and Garreau and DeCoteau fled. DeCoteau was soon apprehended and was charged in state court with attempted murder, aggravated assault and resisting arrest for allegedly assaulting the trooper, who had stopped him for a North Dakota probation violation.

Federal law enforcement officers spent two weeks searching for Garreau, who was arrested April 3 in Rapid City.

All three men have pleaded guilty to charges connected with the March 17 assault. Garreau pleaded guilty to retaliation against a federal witness and to escape. DeCoteau pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon and aiding and abetting. LeBeau pleaded guilty to misprision of a felony, or failure to report a felony.

According to federal court documents, DeCoteau and LeBeau said Garreau picked up a child's baseball bat in the yard of the house of Lawrence's girlfriend. When Lawrence answered the door, Garreau hit him with the bat, the men said.

DeCoteau admitted to blocking Lawrence's escape as Garreau continued to assault him. LeBeau admitted to concealing the crime. He will be sentenced Feb. 8.

Federal court documents show that Garreau admitted to assaulting Lawrence but did not admit to using a bat. Garreau is set for sentencing Feb. 25 on both the retaliation and escape charges.

DeCoteau is facing a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the federal assault charge. He has been detained pending sentencing.

Contact Heidi Bell Gease at 394-8419 or heidi.bell@rapidcityjournal.com