Rapid City Man Sentenced for Voluntary Manslaughter and Child Abuse

PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Voluntary Manslaughter and Child Abuse. The sentencing took place on October 24, 2023.

Noah Virgil White Lance, III, age 34, was sentenced to a total of 18 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

White Lance was indicted by a federal grand jury in November of 2022. He pleaded guilty on July 10, 2023.

In early August of 2022, the Defendant and his two daughters relocated from Rapid City, South Dakota, to Mission, South Dakota. While residing in Mission, the Defendant would physically abuse his younger daughter by striking her in the head and body. The Defendant would also order his older daughter to abuse his younger daughter as a form of discipline. On August 11, the Defendant instructed his older daughter to discipline his younger daughter for violating bathroom privileges.  In line with the Defendant’s orders, the older daughter abused her sister. The younger daughter became non-responsive during the abuse and succumbed to her injuries two days later after attempts at medical intervention were unsuccessful. An autopsy revealed traumatic head injuries, multiple rib fractures at various stages of healing, and multiple cuts and bruises. The cause of death was determined to be traumatic brain injury due to non-accident trauma. The fatal injury was likely inflicted previously and the symptoms were exacerbated by the older sibling.

This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State court.

This case was investigated by the FBI, the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services, and the Sioux Falls Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Abby Roesler prosecuted the case.

White Lance was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.