Investigators thought SD AG Ravnsborg should get charged with 2nd degree manslaughter

[Nevilledog]

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Unrolled thread here
https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1433188724263825408.html

BREAKING: Investigators thought SD AG #Ravnsborg should get charged with 2nd degree manslaughter (he wasn't), and told prosecutors as much. Per DPS Sec. Price letter today to Speaker Gosch, just released:
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INBOX: Full letter from DPS price to Speaker Gosch, indexing the entire Ravnsborg investigation file, to use for impeachment proceedings against Ravnsborg. Full doc here:

RAVNSBORG investigation file handover letter - Sept. 1, 2021
South Dakota Dept. of Public Safety Sec. Price letter to SD House Speaker Spencer Gosch, Sept. 1, 2021, with opening remarks and index of entire investigation file into Ravnsborg matter.
https://www.scribd.com/document/522742550/RAVNSBORG-investigation-file-handover-letter-Sept-1-2021

"In my opinion as a 24-year law enforcement officer, and the opinion of the highly trained highway patrol officers involved in this investigation, Mr. Ravnsborg should have been charged with 2nd Degree Manslaughter. The prosecution team was well aware of that position."

"The South Dakota Highway Patrol stood ready and willing to provide expert testimony regarding the crash and the facts of this investigation at trial, a position that was also made clear to the prosecutor."

Some context: This is an remarkable statement by the head of state law enforcement, weighing in on a prosecutorial decision. Also noteworthy: he's making it in a letter to the speaker that was then released to the public by Gov. Noem's office -- not directly speaking out.

Remember, prosecutors carefully tried to explain to the public why they weren't pursuing manslaughter, and instead charging Ravnsborg with three class 2 misdemeanors for, essentially, bad driving:

South Dakota's attorney general charged in crash that killed pedestrian | INFORUM
The announcement from Hyde County State's Attorney Emily Sovell came more than five months after Jason Ravnsborg admitted he hit and killed 55-year-old Joseph Boever with his car along the shoulder of…
https://www.inforum.com/news/government-and-politics/6892941-South-Dakotas-attorney-general-charged-in-crash-that-killed-pedestrian

This letter makes it clear that Price/others were VERY displeased with the prosecutors decisions on Ravnsborg's charges, and VERY VERY displeased with Ravnsborg's comments about the investigation. Consider this the response from law enforcement:

Price: "The investigators' conclusions as to the events of that evening, which were based on the evidence contained in the materials I am providing to you, were challenged publicly by Mr. Ravnsborg prior to entering his plea agreement..."

Price, cont.: "...In doing so, Mr. Ravnsborg, while still serving as the attorney general, made a number of assertions that disparaged the work and reputation of the law enforcement agencies involved in this investigation. ..."

Price, contd: "On behalf of all the law enforcement involved in this investigation, I categorically reject Mr. Ravnsborg's characterization."

This letter from Price raises serious questions about how Ravnsborg, who has rejected resigning as state attorney general, will function in his job, since these are the people he has to work with every day as the state's top law enforcement officer.

Think about this from DPS Sec. Price/law enforcement point of view, per letter: Ravnsborg didn't get charged with what he deserved and what they could prove, trash talked the investigation, then cut a plea with prosecutors on the 3 minor charges, then was still defiant.

Remember, after all that went down, Ravnsborg's prepared statement? He literally starts it by equating the suffering of his family with the family of Joe Boever, who he hit and killed with his car. -- "On September 12, 2020, two families were changed forever."
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And now, response from the prosecution: “I would say to the politicians out there that are making this very political, they have a remedy. But to point their fingers at the criminal justice system or at the prosecutors I think is wrong." via @Ajzionts:

Ravnsborg Prosecutor: Politicians Should Blame State Laws, Not Prosecution
Ravnsborg Prosecutor: Politicians Should Blame State Laws, Not Prosecution
https://www.sdpb.org/blogs/news-and-information/ravnsborg-prosecutor-politicians-should-blame-state-laws-not-prosecution/

Want to catch up on all our Ravnsborg coverage and timeline, and see for yourself all the evidence that's been released so far? Visit our case page, here:

Jason Ravnsborg crash: All investigation evidence, coverage of deadly collision | INFORUM
Below are links to our past coverage of the South Dakota Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg matter and all the investigative materials, documents and videos released to the public by the South Dakota De…
https://www.inforum.com/news/crime-and-courts/6931559-Jason-Ravnsborg-crash-All-investigation-evidence-coverage-of-deadly-collision
@mentions

To clarify (my mistake), not a response from prosecution to the Price letter, but a good interview explaining their view, conducted prior to the letter's release, by :

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[bluestarone]

1. And a judge signed off on this

BULLSHIT? (give me a fucking break)

[Champp]

2. But Ravnsborg is a Republican, and they slither out of everything

never take responsibility, lie like snakes.

Sad.