Kyle Man Sentenced for Involuntary Manslaughter

U.S. Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a man charged with involuntary manslaughter was sentenced on December 17, 2010, by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Viken. Denny Spotted Eagle, age 22, of Kyle, was sentenced to 36 months of imprisonment, three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $100 to the Victim Assistance Fund and $14,000 to the decedent’s family.

Spotted Eagle was indicted for involuntary manslaughter by a federal grand jury on March 16, 2010. He was sentenced for driving his vehicle, while intoxicated, in an unsafe manner on November 7, 2009, causing it to roll over. As a result of the crash, a passenger in the vehicle was killed. Spotted Eagle’s blood alcohol content (BAC) at the time he drove the vehicle was approximately .167 (approximately twice the legal limit). Spotted Eagle pled guilty on September 10, 2010, to the charge of involuntary manslaughter.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregg S. Peterman prosecuted the case.

Spotted Eagle was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshal.