St. Francis Man Charged with Involuntary Manslaughter
| U.S. Attorney’s Office October 11, 2012 |
United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a St. Francis, South Dakota man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for involuntary manslaughter.
Thomas Hacker, age 49, was indicted by a federal grand jury on September 19, 2012. He appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on October 2, 2012, and pled not guilty to the indictment. The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to eight years in custody, a $250,000 fine, or both.
The charge is merely an accusation, and Hacker is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant United States Attorney Marie H. Ruettgers is prosecuting the case.
Hacker was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal pending trial. A trial date has not been set.