Eagle Butte Woman Sentenced for Involuntary Manslaughter

U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of South Dakota
April 4, 2014

United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that an Eagle Butte, South Dakota woman convicted of involuntary manslaughter was sentenced on March 31, 2014, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange.

Debra Charging Cloud, age 28, was sentenced to 30 months in custody, 18 months of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Charging Cloud was indicted by a federal grand jury on May 15, 2013, and she pled guilty to involuntary manslaughter on January 13, 2014.

The conviction arose from a car crash that occurred on April 6, 2013, when Charging Cloud, who was driving under the influence of alcohol, went into the ditch and rolled over. Charging Cloud’s blood alcohol level was 0.226. During the crash and rollover, an adult female passenger in Charging Cloud’s vehicle was ejected and died as the result of her injuries.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the South Dakota Highway Patrol, and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mikal Hanson prosecuted the case.

Charging Cloud was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.