Eagle Butte Woman Charged with Involuntary Manslaughter

U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of South Dakota
September 13, 2013

United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that an Eagle Butte, South Dakota woman has been indicted by a federal grand jury for involuntary manslaughter.

Debra Charging Cloud, age 28, was indicted on May 15, 2013. She appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on September 12, 2013, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.

The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to eight years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.

The charges arose from an alleged incident in April 2013 when Charging Cloud, while under the influence of alcohol, lost control of the vehicle she was driving on a gravel road near Eagle Butte and rolled it, resulting in the death of her passenger.

The charge is merely an accusation, and Charging Cloud is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mikal Hanson is prosecuting the case.

Charging Cloud was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. A trial date has been set for November 5, 2013.