South Dakota attorney general fined in pedestrian’s death

South Dakota Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg (R) on Thursday was fined for a car crash last year that led to the death of a man.

A South Dakota judge fined the attorney general $500 for each of the two misdemeanor charges he pleaded guilty to and ordered him to pay court costs, according to The Associated Press.

He was also ordered to do a “significant public service event” for the next five years around the anniversary of Joseph Boever’s death, something the family had requested, the AP noted.

Ravnsborg was previously charged with three misdemeanors for allegedly hitting and killing Boever in September.

Ravnsborg was driving at night and allegedly hit Boever, who was walking on the wrong side of the highway. The attorney general said he thought he hit a deer, even though Boever’s glasses were later found in Ravnsborg’s car.

Beadle County State’s Attorney Michael Moore said Wednesday that Ravnsborg would enter a plea deal, but Moore couldn’t discuss the details of the agreement due to a judge’s order.

According to The Argus Leader, Ranvsborg on Thursday pleaded no contest to two misdemeanor charges of driving outside of his lane and using an electronic device while driving. Prosecutors dropped the third charge of careless driving.

Tim Rensch, who represents Ravnsborg, told the court that the evidence in the case supports negligence at best, according to the newspaper.

“It isn’t a homicide case,” Rensch said, according to The Argus Leader. “That’s what the mix up here is with the family. They think it’s a homicide case.”

The Hill has reached out to Rensch’s office for further comment. 

Thursday’s plea is likely not the end of all litigation in the incident. Boever’s widow, Jenny Boever, is expected to file a civil lawsuit against Ravnsborg for wrongful death, The Argus Leader noted.