La Plant Couple Charged with Involuntary Manslaughter, Child Abuse, and False Statement

United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a couple from La Plant, South Dakota has been indicted by a federal grand jury.

Rochelle Breckbill, a/k/a Rochelle LeBeau, age 25, and Henry Chase Alone, age 30, were indicted on November 14, 2013, for involuntary manslaughter, child abuse, and false statement. They appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on November 19, 2013, and pled not guilty to the indictment.

The maximum penalty upon conviction for each person is 15 years of imprisonment and/or a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, an additional two years of supervised release upon revocation, and a mandatory $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.

The charges are merely accusations, and Breckbill and Chase Alone are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The three-count indictment alleges that between September 29, 2013 and October 1, 2013, Breckbill and Chase Alone unlawfully killed a human being, without malice. The indictment also alleges that they abused, exposed, tortured, tormented, and cruelly punished a child who had not attained the age of seven years. Following those acts, it is alleged that Breckbill and Chase Alone lied to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay P. Miller is prosecuting the case.

Breckbill and Chase Alone were released on bond pending trial which has not been set.