Oglala Woman Sentenced for Involuntary Manslaughter

U.S. Attorney's Office
26 November 2014

United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that an Oglala, South Dakota, woman convicted of Involuntary Manslaughter was sentenced on November 25, 2014, by Chief Judge Jeffrey L. Viken, U.S. District Court.

Valerie Good Voice Flute, age 37, was sentenced to 30 months in custody, three years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Good Voice Flute was indicted for Involuntary Manslaughter by a federal grand jury on August 27, 2013. She pled guilty to the charge on July 10, 2014.

The conviction stems from Good Voice Flute operating and crashing a motor vehicle while under the influence on May 19, 2013, near Loneman. The crash resulted in the death of Gillard Good Voice Flute.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Justice Services, and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn N. Rich prosecuted the case.

Good Voice Flute was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.