St. Francis Woman Sentenced for Involuntary Manslaughter and Criminal Contempt

United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a St. Francis, South Dakota, woman convicted of Involuntary Manslaughter and Criminal Contempt was sentenced on February 4, 2019, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange.

Omalewin Neck, age 25, was sentenced to 36 months in federal prison for Involuntary Manslaughter, and 2 months in federal prison for Criminal Contempt, with the sentences to be served consecutively, followed by 3 years of supervised release.  Neck was also ordered to pay a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $110, and to pay restitution of $1,500.  Additional restitution may apply.

Neck was indicted by a federal grand jury on the Involuntary Manslaughter charge on January 17, 2018.  She pled guilty on August 7, 2018. 

The Involuntary Manslaughter conviction stemmed from an incident that occurred near St. Francis on the evening of October 1, 2017.  On that date, Neck had been consuming alcohol, and was driving a car northbound on BIA 1 south of St. Francis.  The victim, an adult female, was seated in the front passenger seat.  As Neck approached St. Francis at a high rate of speed, she lost control of the vehicle and left the roadway.  The vehicle rolled multiple times, causing Neck and the victim to be ejected from the vehicle.  The victim died as a result of injuries suffered in the wreck. Neck sustained serious injuries in the wreck and was hospitalized. 

On December 1, 2018, Neck was in custody pending sentencing for Involuntary Manslaughter, and was granted a furlough to attend a funeral.  She did not go to the funeral and instead went to the Ft. Randall Casino Hotel in Lake Andes, South Dakota, and consumed alcoholic beverages.  She was arrested later that day at the Ft. Randall Casino Hotel.  Based on the foregoing, on December 11, 2018, Neck was indicted by a federal grand jury on the Criminal Contempt charge.  She pled guilty on January 23, 2019.

The cases were investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Yankton Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the cases.   

Neck was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.