Menominee (Wisconsin) Reservation Resident Sentenced to 48 Months in Prison for Involuntary Manslaughter

United States Attorney James L. Santelle announced today that on May 5, 2011, U.S. District Judge William Griesbach sentenced Menominee Indian Reservation resident John G. Shawano (age 29) to 48 months in federal prison for involuntary manslaughter in the drunk driving death of an 18-year-old family member. Judge Griesbach also ordered Shawano to pay a $1,000 fine and to serve three years of supervised release after he is released from prison.

The fatal one-vehicle crash occurred on November 14, 2010, at approximately 1:30 p.m., on County Highway M on the Menominee Indian Reservation. Shawano was driving a minivan with three other occupants, including the 18-year-old victim. Shawano lost control of the minivan as he rounded a corner, causing the minivan to swerve, cross the oncoming traffic lane, strike some trees in the opposite ditch, and roll onto its side before coming to a rest. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene. Shawano and the other two occupants escaped serious injury. A forensic blood draw taken two hours later showed Shawano’s blood ethanol concentration was 0.304 grams/100 milliliters. The prohibited blood alcohol level was 0.08 grams/100 milliliters.

The case was investigated by the Menominee Tribal Police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Wisconsin State Patrol, and was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office of the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Green Bay Division.