Governor Noem Issues Statement on Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg’s Plea Agreement

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Governor Noem Issues Statement on Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg’s Plea Agreement

PIERRE, S.D. – Today, following South Dakota Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg’s plea of “no contest” to charges against him regarding the death of Joseph Boever, Governor Kristi Noem issued the following statement:

“With today’s plea, Jason Ravnsborg’s legal proceedings have concluded.  Like many South Dakotans, I am not only disappointed in how this process was handled by prosecutors, but outraged at the result of today’s plea hearing and sentencing.  Ravnsborg has not accepted responsibility for the death of Joseph Boever and did not even appear in court today to face the charges or the Boever family. ”

Speaker of the House Spencer Gosch said in March that the House would wait until after “the judicial system is able to do its job” to proceed with articles of impeachment against Ravnsborg. The South Dakota Sheriff’s Association, the South Dakota Police Chiefs Association, and the South Dakota Fraternal Order of Police previously called on him to resign.

“If Ravnsborg does not resign, as I believe he should, the Legislature can and should consider the articles of impeachment already brought in the House,” continued Noem. “I have therefore instructed the state Department of Public Safety to provide Speaker Gosch a complete copy of the investigation file in the coming days to assist the House in its important work.”

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91 thoughts on “Governor Noem Issues Statement on Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg’s Plea Agreement”

    1. KELO-TV continues to report that Boever was struck “while walking on the shoulder” of the highway. Did the state investigation conclude that Boever was struck while “walking”? Has Ravnsborg now conceded that Boever never entered the driving lanes?

      Those are honest questions, not rhetorical ones. Does anyone here know the answers?

              1. But it does. The accident reconstruction reported that “The crash report said the victim, 55-year-old Joseph Boever of Highmore, was walking on the north shoulder of Highway 14 when he was struck. Boever was carrying a light at the time.”

                1. You’ve quoted Dakota News Now, not the accident reconstruction, but that’s better than KELO-TV, which explicitly asserts that Boever was “walking” in its own voice.

    2. According to KELO-TV, the state’s attorney “noted the plea deal admits guilt.”

      I thought a “no contest” plea didn’t admit guilt. Can anyone here clarify?

      1. Your take is the correct one. If no contest admitted guilt, it would be called a guilty plea.

        1. But Angela Kennecke says on Twitter that KELO-TV reported only what they could confirm. So who’s lying, Kennecke or the state’s attorney?

          1. SDCL 23A-7-2: Nolo contendere: No contest-has the same effect as a plea of guilty, as far as the criminal sentence is concerned, but may not be considered as an admission of guilt for any other purpose.

            So in a way, they are both right.

            1. If a “no contest” plea doesn’t admit guilt, then claiming it admits guilt isn’t right.

    3. Is the governor sorry for her multiple speeding tickets, several times of blowing through stop signs and several times when she failed to appear? She is disappointed that Jason didn’t appear when he was not required to, but she didn’t even appear when required to; a bit hypocritial.

      Seems like she has an axe to grind with the AG, and that is not her place.

      Also, I don’t believe she is an attorney or went to law school, so how much could she know about the job of the prosecutor and the rules they follow? Is she just disappointed because she didn’t get the outcome she wanted?

    4. You don’t need to thank her, she isn’t doing this for YOU.
      It’s clear she wants him out of that office before January 2023.
      And it’s unlikely she’s going to leave Charlie in charge, (which would be nice, and decent) she’s going to put somebody else in, who will have only 18 months to get anything accomplished before being shown to the door by Marty.

      It’s all politics as usual.
      So… how many prosecutors are looking for a temporary position?

      1. Two. And I was a combat arms, not transportation officer who tries to pass himself off as an A-10 pilot

        1. Ravnsborg issued a detailed and widely disseminated public statement under his real name. Those of us who don’t even put our names on our blog comments might look a little silly saying he should “be a man and quit hiding.”

      1. What did he do wrong, cross line barley?? It’s a misdemeanor class 2, not manslaughter. Stop treating it as such.

        2. Yeah. He committed a misdemeanor and killed a man. I know you want to keep wiping that pesky little fact away, but his negligence caused a death. The fact that he wasn’t charged was because the statute requires mens rea of recklessness and negligence isn’t sufficient. THIS DOESN’T MEAN HE ISN’T RESPONSIBLE FOR A MAN’S DEATH.

          1. And what about the fact that the guy was way over-medicated and suicidal? He holds no blame either, give me a break.

            1. Can you point me to a pharmacological document that discusses how overmedicated individuals cause others to drive outside the lane in their car?

              1. And how do we not know he wasn’t stumbling into the roadway? He did crash his truck early that evening and did not report that to the police.

                That hay came out of nowhere, is that what you are going to say next?

                1. We know he was on the side of the road due to accident reconstruction by people who do it for a living, as opposed to your source, which appears to be your feelings.

                  1. Government investigators are prone to corruption and honest mistakes just like the rest of us.

              2. Do you have proof of that claim, Sylvester? Try to make a valid statement. If you are relying on what the news puts out you are pretty gullible. If you are relying on the smear campaign of governor Noem you are gullible.

        3. The claim was “He did nothing wrong.” I responded to that. But hey, thanks for your totally random response.

  5. The power play by Noem continues…..she just wants to control that office also with her replacement.

    A replacement does not help Jackley either…..this requires deep thinking folks

    1. it doesn’t matter which one of her buddies she puts in that office; the Republican nomination is already Jackley’s for the asking, whether she likes it or not.
      And that’s all I’m going to say about THAT.

    2. The best thing that Noem could do for her political career (not that she needs help) is if the AG resigns is to put Jackley into that position. It would heal a ton of wounds that she created in 2018 and bring the bitter Jackley folks back to her camp.

        1. I think we’ve already determined that staying a course is a challenge for Ravnsborg, get his no contest plea to lane driving. Morbid humor? Maybe. But it is borderline comical how many people continue to sidestep that THE CHIEF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER OF THE STATE WAS NEGLIGENT AND KILLED A MAN.

          1. I’ve determined that understanding the law is a challenge for you. A “no contest” plea doesn’t admit guilt.

            1. But he stands convicted in a court of law, regardless of his plea. It seems the law is difficult for both of us, I guess.

            2. A NO CONTEST PLEA basically says, you are not admitting guilt, you are willing to accept the Misdemeanors as fact of the evidence presented, while standing on your own defense of the fact you did not intend to, or fully cause the damages stemming from the claims. It also keeps very specific issues out of the civil case. They cannot use the misdemeanors from the Criminal Case to define, yet alone add to, or subtract from the damages. They may simply only be allowed to present the true costs of the accident, and nothing more. Lets be clear here, Insurance is going to pay for most of the damages, and I believe, I could be wrong, but statutes say those damages are to be capped at $25,000 dollars. By submitting the NO CONTEST PLEA, they will not be able to pass full blame onto the “Driver” for the wrongful death damages that will most be claimed. That is in my best interpretation the difference between a Guilty Plea vs No Contest Plea.

              1. Your explanation is partly correct. The correct part is the part where you said, “I could be wrong.”

  6. It’s very sad that a simple misdemeanor can ruin a good political career. These days, good candidates are hard to find and this could happen to anyone. Noem – wait until one of those speeding tickets results in an injury and the same will come to you. Those who judge are judged the hardest in the end.

  7. Seriously the Governor is now attacking prosecutors after Hansen and Odenbach….geez this is getting out of hand.,

    She needs to build coalitions instead

  9. I disagree wholeheartedly with the Governor on this. This is not an impeachable offense and once the bar is this low, . . .

    P.S. I have lost all respect for those law enforcement organizations. They are not judge and jury and should respect their role enough to stay in their lane. That said, their willingness to interject themselves does not diminish my respect for the law enforcement personnel protecting us every day.

    These organizations are as worthless as the military leadership in Afghanistan. Despicable is a better word. Rotten.

    1. “as worthless as the military leadership in Afghanistan”. Good grief, for taking an opinion on the ability of an AG that killed a man to continue in office? Get a grip.

      1. By the way, your words get to the heart of the issue: “taking an opinion on the ability of an AG”

        That is it. They disagree with the job he is doing and these scumbags are using this accident tragedy to get an outcome they want BEFORE his term is up via impeachment. And that is why I find them despicable, lying scumbags because they aren’t honest enough to thwart the Constitution by advocating impeachment over policy differences or administration or enforcement decisions. .

        Am I clear enough for you on my view?

    2. I’m sure those LEOs will really appreciate you trashing one of the few orgs that has actively looked out for them in a time when anti cop sentiment is at a fever pitch because it expressed an opinion you didnt like. Yeah, pretty worthless.

      1. I sign my name and consider these public statements said to the leadership of these groups. My high esteem for law enforcement officers requires me to have high expectations of their leadership, expectations they gravely did not meet.

        They are organizations which represent people who are sworn to uphold the law and the justice system. For the leadership of these groups to try a citizen in the court of public opinion and demand his resignation before he has had a right to defend himself in court is disgusting and, in my opinion, a stain on the service, integrity and oath of those they represent.

        So, I will say it again: I think their decision to participate in a court of public opinion is disgusting and I find them personally despicable.

        1. “Gravely did not meet.” Oh, you mean they said a thing you did not like. Weird conflation, but an attempt was made, I guess. Further, they publicly stated a position on a man who will continue to be in charge of law enforcement operations in this state. But no, Troy, let’s just sweep the conclusions of the organizations who advocate for police under the rug because you are upset and think they should just be quiet and accept what is coming.

          1. Yes. I have an opinion which I explain and sign my name too.

            “conclusions of the organizations” is by definition trying him in the court of public opinion which law enforcement is always protesting as not legitimate justice. Further, the underlying “conclusion” is they don’t like the job he is doing, they aren’t honest enough to say that is why they think he should be removed and instead are dishonestly using this accident tragedy to supersede the will of the people and the Constitutional term to which the AG has been elected.

            The ends don’t justify the means. And, this relativism is beneath the ethics of my expectations of law enforcement.

            2. Ah yes, only Ttoy is privy to whag tbe cops are REALLY thinking. John Dale is in your bloodstream.

        2. I agree with you, this has been made way to political, all for a very common motor vehicle accident that happens nearly 2 times a month. Sure not every accident results in death of a person, but these accidents do happen at a pretty high rate. And I find it dispicable that so many people would attack one man for using a cell phone while driving, when I look around as I drive and see nearly 50% of the drivers with their phone in their hand, yet alone, there is NO LAW that says you cannot talk on your phone. Shameful, cause the mob wants to attack one man for the actions of so many. People need to relax.

          I have supported the Governor on many topics, I have disagreed with her on many other topics, on this matter, I think she is doing this for political gain, and that is wrong. Sure she wants the AG to be impeached, so she can choose the replacement who will serve what? 12 to 18 months. I dont get it.

          People need to Relax, Enjoy Life, and Have a Little Fun at the Same Time.

          This Attorney General has stood up for many of the People of this State like no other before him, and when you finally get an Attorney General that cares that much to defend the People, you dont remove him from office over petty Misdemeanors.

          This topic has 100% become way to Political. My Two Cents.

          1. My understanding is that Ravnsborg wasn’t using a cell phone at the time of the collision.

            1. He was just doing something else and not paying enough attention that he left the roadway and struck and killed Joe while he walked on the shoulder. Much better I guess.

              1. How could anyone who wasn’t there know whether Ravnsborg was doing something else? How could anyone who wasn’t there know whether Boever was walking when he was struck?

                  1. It isn’t a copout. There are many ways to know things, but what possible evidence could indicate that Boever wasn’t fatally struck while running, or throwing himself onto the hood of the car, or tumbling forward off the hood as Ravnsborg was braking?

    3. Once again Troy brings reason and perspective to the issue. He was charged with what they could prove.

  10. interesting that somebody with a history of speeding tickets thinks a misdemeanor charge disqualifies a person from public office but whatever…

    1. How many people has she killed with her automobile? You Ravnsborg apologists keep trying to sidestep this issue and it is pretty damn distasteful.

        1. So you admit he is negligent, admit he killed a man, but still attribute it all to luck. Piping hot take.

          2. I really doubt there is anybody here who has never ever drifted out of their lane due to distraction or drowsiness. Usually there is nothing along the shoulder but gravel or broken glass.
            Driving along the rural highways you can see tire tracks on the shoulders because this happens often.
            As children we were all taught to walk facing oncoming traffic to protect ourselves because of the possibility that a driver might do this. Where vehicle and pedestrian traffic are heavy, and the likelihood of such a collision is higher, barriers like curbs are installed.
            The odds that a driver would drift out of his lane at the same point a pedestrian was walking on the shoulder of a rural highway were so minuscule that there were no barriers. It was bad luck, and could have happened to any of us.

            1. And what are the odds that a driver would slam on the brakes and turn sharply onto the shoulder at the exact same point where a pedestrian was depressed and suicidal and no one knows why he was out there?

              It looks to me like the initial collision was in the driving lane, and state investigators botched the reconstruction.

              1. It looks to me like unicorns actually exist and transport Biden from meeting to meeting. You see how just saying something without any supporting facts is kinda silly?

                1. It seems obvious from the skid marks that Ravnsborg was already braking as he left the driving lane. Why would he have swerved toward Boever instead of away from him?

                  1. Nobody is saying he intentionally killed Boever. But recall that Ravnsborg claimed he thought it was a deer, so he clearly wasn’t paying attention. What South Dakotan can’t tell the difference between a deer and a person who briefly came through their windshiled. Those of us who are debating you aren’t saying he hit Boever maliciously, but negligently.

                    1. If the initial collision had been on the shoulder, why would Ravnsborg have slammed on the brakes and swerved toward Boever instead of away from him?

            2. Very Well Said, I have said this so very often, it is quite common to drift onto the shoulder for any number of reasons. I have done so, You have most likely done so, I mean, I drove back from Mitchell once and i could barely stay in the driving lane on I-90. I could not imagine a two lane highway, with less room to spare. People are getting their pants all tied in wad over this, its simply an everyday common accident, that is why they are called Accidents. Plain and Simple.

              1. It seems obvious from the skid marks that Ravnsborg slammed on the brakes and turned sharply onto the shoulder. Did the state investigation conclude that he “drifted” onto it?

      2. The governor has just been lucky she hasn’t killed anyone with her history of breaking the law, and Jason was just unlucky that Mr. Boever was out wandering around in the dark when he was under the influence.

        1. Curious that you frame it is Ravsnborg being the one with bad luck and not Mr. Boever.

          1. The topic under discussion was the difference between Ravnsborg and Noem. Curious that you can’t keep up.

            1. No, I caught perfectly what is happening, which is people on DWC comments section continuously trying to sweep under the rug that the AG killed a man due to his negligence. Your counterfactual is dumb and adds literally nothing to the argument other than attempting to deflect blame.

                1. He couldn’t keep his vehicle in the driving lane and he wasn’t paying enough attention to even see a human in front of his car. I’ve had people and deer come out of nowhere. I’ve almost struck individuals walking on or near the highway while driving through the reservation. Even when it was a split second sighting, I’ve never not known whether it was an animal or human. An individual would have to be looking somewhere else for them to miss seeing it.

                  1. Have you ever had a person or a deer “come out of nowhere” in the dark, throw himself onto the hood of your car from the extreme periphery of your headlight beam, and shatter your windshield? Do you think you would have kept your vehicle in the driving lane or skidded onto the shoulder?

                    What if you’d looked at the speedometer during your “split second sighting”? Do you think you’d be guilty of negligence?

    2. Woa, I never knew that. Is that real facts? I been driving since I was in diapers, not really, but if you count my “racing days” racing go karts at an early age of 9, well, I have had maybe if I am lucky, 2 or 3 speeding tickets in my life time. Spread out over a period of 30 years, I have had 2 or 3 accidents in my life time over that same period of time, have had to go thru the same b.s court trials cause people blamed me for the damages, but however you put it, 26 Speeding Tickets is well, a lot. But then again, they are simply “Misdemeanors, and carry only a civil penalty, they are “tax revenue” for the State, which we put back into the pot to help educate our children on how to drive on the roads. So I guess, you can make an argument that with each Misdemeanor we pay, ‘we’ are providing Public Safety Education to Our Future Children.

  11. Noem should never have been involved in this matter to begin with…tainted the entire process

    1. I keep asking the question why would Noem, a Republican be so involved in this? My thoughts lead me to that Nemo wants to keep something from coming out. Why else would you want your guy in the AG’s chair.

      1. There are many reasons a governor would like to have her own guy in the AG’s office, most of them involving suits against the federal government.

        1. If you believe that is the only reason then I have a bridge to sell you.

          The sad part is Ravnsborg was on top of all the suits going on around the country, from what I have seen and read he is doing a great job as AG.

        2. Yeah great lets let Noem sue more like the worthless fireworks case that is costing us hundreds of thousands of dollars for a photo op for her…..the AG rightly didn’t sue on that one if you look at the pleadings.

          or let her prop up things like the marijuana case against the will fo the people….

  12. Does Noem understand the law?

    “With today’s plea, Jason Ravnsborg’s legal proceedings have concluded. Like many South Dakotans, I am not only disappointed in how this process was handled by prosecutors, but outraged at the result of today’s plea hearing and sentencing.”

    If the judge, prosecutors all say he is not going to jail what is her flippin’ deal?

    She obviously believes in mob rule and not the rule if law.

    Obviously

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