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

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.

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.