When 55-year-old Joe Boever died near Highmore on Sept. 12, 2020, his death made headlines across the country. The attention came not because of who he was, but how he died: he was struck and killed by a car driven by the Attorney General for the State of South Dakota.
Now, almost a year later, Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg has been sentenced for two Class 2 misdemeanors, using a cell phone while driving and driving outside his lane.
Just before the two-day trial was to begin, he entered into a plea agreement with the state that dropped another of the minor charges, careless driving, and allowed him to avoid admitting guilt by pleading no contest.
Ravnsborg did not attend his own sentencing; his lawyer appeared for him.
The change of plea and sentencing hearing was held on Thursday, Aug. 26, at the Stanley County Courthouse, on the same day and time that Ravnsborg's trial was set to begin.
Joe Boever's widow and his sister made statements in the courtroom, though Jason Ravnsborg wasn't there to hear them. After the hearing, two of Joe's cousins spoke with reporters, including Victoria Wicks, who brings this story to SDPB.