PIERRE, South Dakota – Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg’s attorney in South Dakota filed innocent pleas in a Pierre courtroom Friday afternoon for three crimes related to the September 2020 crash that killed a man. Ravnsborg was not present at the Hughes County Courthouse; his attorney, Timothy J. Rensch of Rapid City, introduced the pleas during a brief hearing. Retired sixth circuit judge John L. Brown, who is chairman, said the case would resume in mid-May and asked lawyers to check their agendas.
Ravnsborg ran to him and killed Joe Boever on the shoulder of US Highway 14 just west of Highmore on September 12. He discovered Boever’s body on the verge of the road the next morning and has since maintained that he didn’t know what he hit while driving at 67 mph. Ravnsborg has been accused of driving a vehicle while using a mobile electronic device, illegally changing lanes and driving carelessly. The maximum penalty for each is 30 days in jail and a fine of $ 500.
“It sounds like he is going to file for a jury trial,” said Nick Nemec, Boever’s cousin, who attended the brief hearing. ‘I don’t know about that. Looks like they killed him. Nemec, who has served as spokesman for the family, said Boevers widow Jenny was in attendance, along with his mother Dorothy Boever and other family members. Scott Heidepriem, a former state legislator and Democratic nominee for governor in 2010, was also in attendance. is one of two attorneys representing Jenny Boever in a planned civil suit against the Attorney General.
Ravnsborg, 44, has refused to resign, despite calls from Government Kristi Noem and lawmakers to do so.