South Dakota’s AG Ravnsborg Charged in Deadly Crash
South Dakota's Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg has officially been charged with three class two misdemeanors after his involvement in a deadly crash last year. His charges include operating a motor vehicle while using an electronic device, improper lane driving, and careless driving. Each count carries with it 30 days in jail and/or a $500 fine.
The charges stem from an incident last September that occurred while Ravnsborg was driving home from a Spink County GOP event that took place at a bar at around 10:30 p.m. Ravnsborg continued driving after he struck what he thought was a deer. The next day, Ravnsborg returned to the scene of the crash where he found the deceased body of 55-year-old Joey Boever. Mr. Boever was walking on the side of the road after his vehicle stopped working the night he got hit by Ravnsborg.
The investigation into the incident was first taken up by the South Dakota Highway Patrol. Not long after, the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation assisted in the case along with police officials from Minnesota and a specialist from Wyoming.
Shortly after the incident, Ravnsborg issued a statement in which he shared, “I am shocked and filled with sorrow following the events of last night. As Governor Noem stated, I am fully cooperating with the investigation and I fully intend to continue to do so moving forward. At this time I offer my deepest sympathy and condolences to the family.”
Throughout the investigation, there has been criticism as to whether or not the authorities were handling the investigation accordingly. A former South Dakota legislator and cousin of Boever, Nick Nemec, shared with a local news outlet, “My worst fear is that they’re trying to get ducks in a row to absolve the attorney general of any wrongdoing.” Nemec also questions whether or not a 911 phone call was made alerting authorities about the crash.
In her announcement of the charges, Assistant State Attorney Emily Sovell explained that the charges were the most severe that she could levy against Ravnsborg based on the available evidence provided by law enforcement officials.
Another attorney on the prosecution team, Beadle County State's Attorney Michael Moore, explained that charges of vehicular homicide could not be brought because there was no evidence of intoxication as required by the offense. Moore explains, "Recklessness is an extremely high burden for us to establish and in this case we don't have it." Moore adds, "I don't feel good about it but it's the right decision."
A toxicology analysis was done on Ravnsborg, but the report was taken 15 hours after the crash had happened. The toxicology report showed that Ravnsborg did not have any alcohol in his system. Critics of the prosecution's decision are quick to point out that a lack of alcohol in his system at the time of testing does not prove that Ravnsborg was not intoxicated at the time of the incident, as the toxicology report was taken long after the crash had happened. This passage of time would have been enough for any alcohol in his system to metabolize.
The governor of South Dakota has weighed in on the prosecution's decision. In a tweet, Governor Kristi Noem shared, “My heart goes out to Joseph Boever’s family. I am not going to comment on the specifics of Ms. Sovell’s decision. I am directing the Department of Public Safety to share additional details of the investigation with the public within the next week.”
Governor Noem has shared previously that the investigation was slow to unfold and caused a “great disservice to the victim's family.” She also expressed her disappointment in the lack of action throughout the course of the investigation. The family of the victim has expressed their disappointment with the prosecution's lenient charges.
After the charges were announced, House lawmakers introduced a resolution to have Attorney General Ravnsborg impeached. Governor Noem echoed this sentiment in her statement that reads in part “now that the investigation has been closed and charges have been filed, I believe the Attorney General should resign.”
