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South Dakota AG pleads no contest to 2 counts in fatal crash, will not do jail time

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South Dakota AG pleads no contest to 2 counts in fatal crash, will not do jail time
Ravnsborg's vehicle after processing at the scene

FORT PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota’s attorney general has pleaded no contest to a pair of misdemeanor charges in the death of a pedestrian last year. Jason Ravnsborg entered the pleas Thursday to charges of making an illegal lane change and using a phone while driving.

Judge John brown denied Ravnsborg’s request for a suspended imposition of sentence. Ravnsborg must pay $1000 in fines and more than $3700 in costs to Hyde County. The judge also ordered Ravnsborg to do some sort of significant public service event on the anniversary of the death for the next 5-years. Ravnsborg was not given any jail time.

The widow of the man killed, Joe Boever, spoke during the sentencing portion of today’s hearing. Jenny Boever says Ravnsborg should have to do jail time, saying Ravnsborg “broke his own law” when he was on his phone while driving.

As part of his plea deal, prosecutors dropped a careless driving charge against the state’s highest law enforcement officer. Ravnsborg, who was elected to his first term in 2018, initially told authorities that he thought he had struck a deer or other large animal on Sept. 12 as he drove home from a Republican fundraiser.

Each charge carries a maximum sentence of up to 30 days in jail and up to a $500 fine.

 

August 26, 2021