While South Dakota Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg wasn't required to be in court for the plea for the three minor charges filed in the car crash that caused the lonesome death of Joseph Boever, his absence only rubs in the weakness of his character and of South Dakota law on pedestrian deaths.
In ‘Not guilty’ plea entered in Ravnsborg court hearing in Pierre KELOLAND reports:
The first court hearing for South Dakota Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg lasted only minutes.
Ravnsborg did not take part in the hearing in Hughes County on Friday, which was scheduled to start at 4 p.m.
His attorney, Tim Rensch, told KELOLAND News earlier this week that he’ll be appearing on Ravnsborg’s behalf, which is standard with Class 2 misdemeanors.
Rensch entered a ‘not guilty’ plea for Ravnsborg.
Ravnsborg is facing three misdemeanor charges in connection with hitting and killing a Highmore man with his car last September. If he’s found guilty, he faces a maximum of 30 days in jail for each charge.
A status hearing will take place in 60 days; no firm date is set for that yet.
At the Sioux Falls Argus Leader, Jonathan Ellis reports in Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg pleads not guilty in death of pedestrian:
. . .Ravnsborg was scheduled to make a first appearance, but his lawyer Tim Rensch, asked to move the hearing up to an arraignment, in which defendants enter a plea.
"We might as well do that when we're all here, your honor," Rensch, who is from Rapid City, told Judge John Brown.
One person who wasn't there was Ravnsborg. Because he is charged with class-2 misdemeanors, he was not required to attend.
He faces three misdemeanor charges of careless driving, driving outside of his lane and operating a vehicle while on a mobile device. Each carries a potential $500 fine and 30-day jail sentence. . . .
Friday's hearing was attended by several of Boever's relatives, including his widow, Jenny, his mother and siblings, Nick Nemec, Boever's cousin, said. They were accompanied by Sioux Falls lawyer Scott Heidepriem, who is representing Boever's family in a civil lawsuit. Heidepriem declined to comment.
Nemec called the not-guilty plea, "troubling."
"They've got him dead to rights using his cellphone while driving," he said. "He was obviously out of his lane. The skid marks on Highway 14 are still visible."
"I guess if he wants to pay an attorney to fight it, that's his prerogative," Nemec added. "I think he's beating a dead horse on that deal." . . .
Earlier Friday, Sioux Falls journalist and writer Tom Lawrence reported for the Daily Beast in South Dakota AG Heads to Court as Vic’s Family Slams Process:
The widow of the man South Dakota Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg ran over and killed plans to attend the first court hearing for the case Friday, even as Ravnsborg himself is expected to have his lawyer stand in on his behalf.
Jenny Boever will be at a Hughes County courtroom in Pierre at 4 p.m. Friday as the initial appearance for three misdemeanor charges is held. She will not, however, get to face Ravnsborg, whose lawyer, Tim Rensch, said he would be appearing on the attorney general's behalf.
Michael Moore, the Beadle County state’s attorney who is assisting Hyde County Deputy State Attorney Emily Sovell, told The Daily Beast it’s “unlikely” a plea will be entered on Friday or that sentencing would occur.
The victim’s family is making it a point to show up anyway.
“I will be there Friday, as will Jenny. I’m a little irritated they moved the initial hearing to Hughes County,” said Joe Boever’s cousin Nick Nemec, a farmer and former Democratic legislator who has served as the family’s spokesman.
“It almost seems as though an effort is underway to make the entire process easier for Ravnsborg, his attorney and the judge,” Nemec told The Daily Beast of the decision to move the hearing nearly 50 miles away. “No consideration is made for the family of the victim.”
Moore explained why it was relocated.
“It is in Pierre for convenience of the parties but the venue remains in Hyde County,” he said.
Hyde County Clerk of Courts Marilyn Hanson said she found out the case was moved when the judge’s order arrived. Hanson said the Hyde County courtroom is small and “antiquated” and there is no elevator in the building.
No cameras will be allowed in the Pierre courtroom, since Ravnsborg objected, according to Sixth Circuit Court Administrator Heather Covey. Audio will be available to the public and media, Moore said, since retired Sixth Circuit Judge John L. Brown approved that.
Ravnsborg is charged with operating a vehicle while using a mobile electronic device, illegal lane change, and careless driving. The maximum penalty for each is 30 days in jail and a $500 fine, meaning he could serve, at most, 90 days behind bars for the crash that left a man dead.
We agree with the victim's family.
Related posts:
- Joe Boever was killed, but Ravnsborg's attorney claims client suffering is the worst thing ever
- Justice for Joe Boever: Governor Noem calls for AG Ravnsborg's resignation; articles of impeachment filed in South Dakota House
- Attorney General Ravnsborg charged with 3 misdemeanors in crash that killed Joe Boever
- Twitter memorials: 5 months ago, South Dakota Attorney General Ravnsborg killed Joe Boever
- Daily Beast: Ravnsborg killed a man. Family members fear Joe Boever has been forgotten
- Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Noem supports using grand jury to speed up Ravnsborg killing probe
- States attorneys looking into killing of Joseph Boever by AG Ravnsborg not talking to Noem
- Rapid City Journal: After 4 months, still no decision on whether AG Ravnsborg will be charged for killing Joseph Boever
- AP: Prosecutors waiting on debris testing in SD Attorney General killing of Joseph Boever
- Governor Kristi Noem takes off her positive pants, given pace of Ravnsborg investigation
- Well, that's illuminating: South Dakota Highway Patrol’s accident report on Boever killing
- South Dakota News Watch: Crash experts question Ravnsborg’s car-deer explanation
- SD News Watch: State's criminal & civil traffic laws favor drivers over pedestrians in collisions
- UPDATED: Joe Boever's tragic death on Hwy 14: news digest about Ravnsborg's fatal accident
Photo: Joseph Boever (left) who was killed by South Dakota Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg.
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