Mandan Man Sentenced for Involuntary Manslaughter

U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of North Dakota
April 7, 2009

BISMARCK, ND—United States Attorney Drew H. Wrigley announced that on April 6, 2009, Delmar M. Sheppard, 29, of Mandan, formerly of Mandaree, North Dakota, was sentenced before United States District Court Chief Judge Daniel L. Hovland on a charge of involuntary manslaughter and a charge of assault resulting in serious bodily injury.

Judge Hovland sentenced Sheppard to serve four years and three months in Federal prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Sheppard was ordered to pay restitution of $297,759.49 and to pay $200 in special assessments to the Crime Victim's Fund.

The incident occurred in May 2008 on County Highway #23 between New Town and Parshall. Sheppard was driving a motor vehicle eastbound when his vehicle crossed the center line into westbound traffic, crashing into three westbound vehicles. The driver of the first westbound vehicle swerved to the right to avoid a head-on collision with Sheppard, but the vehicle was side-swiped by Sheppard’s vehicle and went into the ditch and overturned. The passenger was ejected and died as a result of injuries sustained in the crash. The driver suffered serious bodily injury. The second westbound vehicle, which was occupied by one adult and three children, was also side-swiped by Sheppard’s vehicle, went into the ditch and overturned, but no one was seriously injured. The third westbound vehicle, which was occupied by two adults and three children, moved to the left and was side-swiped by Sheppard’s vehicle, but the third vehicle was able to stay on the road and no one was seriously injured. Sheppard’s blood alcohol content was .12%. An analysis of a blood sample drawn from Sheppard also demonstrated that Sheppard had ingested a prescription medication that was located within his motor vehicle but was prescribed to another person.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Three Affiliated Tribes Police Department and Criminal Investigations Division, the North Dakota Highway Patrol and the Mountrail County Sheriff’s Office.

Assistant United States Attorney Rick Volk prosecuted the case.