Blackfoot Man Sentenced for Involuntary Manslaughter

U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Idaho
April 29, 2013

POCATELLO—Kendall Perry, 22, of Blackfoot, Idaho, was sentenced today in United States District Court to 30 months in prison for involuntary manslaughter, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill also ordered Perry to serve three years of supervised release and do 200 hours of community service. Perry, an enrolled member of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, was indicted by a federal grand jury on October 23, 2012, on one count of involuntary manslaughter. He pleaded guilty to the charge on January 28, 2013.

According to the indictment, on June 30, 2012, Perry, who was intoxicated, was operating a 1999 GMC Yukon with gross negligence, causing a roll-over accident near the intersection of Philbin and Sheepskin Road that resulted in the death of Cullen Fightsover, a passenger in the vehicle. An accident reconstructionist said the vehicle was traveling at 74 mph in a 50 mph zone. Perry ran a stop sign, went through the intersection, and then lost control and rolled into a field, ejecting the three occupants from the vehicle. Fightsover was life-flighted but was pronounced dead at the hospital. Perry admitted drinking hard liquor and beer and admitted smoking marijuana in the hours before the crash. Perry admitted he was “buzzed” from the alcohol he had consumed.

The victim’s family members spoke at sentencing and expressed forgiveness towards Perry. Judge Winmill stated to those present in the courtroom that he considered those statements in imposing sentence.

The case was investigated by the Fort Hall Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Idaho State Police.