Rosebud Man Sentenced for Involuntary Manslaughter

U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of South Dakota
9 October 2015

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that a Rosebud, South Dakota, man convicted of Involuntary Manslaughter was sentenced on October 6, 2015, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange.

Jason Kimmel, Sr., age 35, was sentenced to 48 months in custody, followed by 2 years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Kimmel was indicted by a federal grand jury on April 14, 2015. He pled guilty on July 20, 2015.

The conviction stemmed from an incident on March 1, 2015, when Kimmel, who was driving a 2001 Chevrolet Blazer, was involved in a single vehicle wreck on a roadway near the Rosebud Adult Corrections Facility in Rosebud. Robert “Oscar” Kills and Keith Sun Bear were passengers in the vehicle. Kimmel was driving erratically and lost control of the vehicle. Sun Bear was ejected, Kimmel was found inside the vehicle, and Kills was found outside the vehicle.

Witnesses to the accident called 911, and Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services officers responded to the scene. Sun Bear was pronounced dead at the scene. Kimmel and Kills were transported to the Indian Health Services hospital for their injuries. Kimmel consented to a blood draw while at the hospital. The blood sample was sent to the South Dakota Department of Health Lab for testing, and the report indicated that Kimmel’s blood alcohol concentration was .345 immediately following the accident.

This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carrie G. Sanderson prosecuted the case.

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