Jaylan Lavone Black was sentenced on Apr. 17 to 18 months in prison after pleading guilty to third-degree assault for attacking another inmate at the Anoka County Jail.
The case highlights the role of the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office in prosecuting certain criminal cases upon referral, as most criminal prosecutions are typically handled by city and county attorneys. The prosecution followed a request from Anoka County Attorney Brad Johnson under Minnesota Statutes section 8.01.
According to court records, the incident occurred on December 6, 2024, when Black punched a fellow inmate following a verbal dispute, resulting in a facial fracture. At his plea hearing on February 3, Black admitted to causing substantial bodily harm during the assault.
Attorney General Keith Ellison said, “My team and I stand ready to help local law enforcement across the state prosecute those who harm their fellow Minnesotans. Jaylan Black did just that, and we held him accountable for it. I’m grateful to the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance investigating this crime.”
The Anoka County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation into the incident.
