St. Francis Woman Pleads Guilty to Involuntary Manslaughter

U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of South Dakota
February 27, 2013

United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that Mary Jo Flammond, a/k/a Mary Jo Waln, age 32, of St. Francis, South Dakota, appeared before U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange on February 21, 2013, and pled guilty to involuntary ,anslaughter. The maximum penalty upon conviction is eight years in custody, a $250,000 fine, or both; three years of supervised release; and a $100 special assessment.

The conviction stems from an incident that took place on September 6, 2012, when Flammond was driving a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol. Flammond was driving recklessly and could not keep the vehicle on the roadway which caused it to roll. The victim died from his injuries sustained in the crash. Flammond’s blood alcohol content at the time of the wreck was 0.191.

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tim Maher.

A presentence investigation was ordered. A sentencing date has not been set. The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending sentencing.