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Press Release

McLaughlin Man Charged with Murder-First Degree and Felony Child Abuse and Neglect

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of South Dakota

United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a McLaughlin, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Murder-First Degree, Felony Child Abuse-Aggravated Battery of an Infant, and Felony Child Abuse and Neglect.

Kenneth William Chase, age 31, was indicted on May 22, 2018.  He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge William D. Gerdes on June 4, 2018, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.

The maximum penalty upon conviction is life in federal prison, a $250,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release, an additional mandatory special assessment of $5,000, and $200 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.  Restitution may also be ordered.

According to the Indictment, Chase committed first degree murder upon a minor victim, in the perpetration and attempted perpetration of child abuse, by inflicting traumatic head injuries to the minor victim. 

The charges are merely accusations and Chase is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. 

The investigation is being conducted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy R. Jehangiri is prosecuting the case.   

Chase was ordered detained pending trial.  A trial date has been set for August.

Updated June 11, 2018

Topics
Indian Country Law and Justice
Violent Crime