Gordon Dean Johnson Charged with Involuntary Manslaughter in Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS—A 46-year-old man from the Red Lake Indian Reservation community of Ponemah has been charged with involuntary manslaughter after a tragic incident on a rural highway.

Gordon Dean Johnson, 46, was operating a motor vehicle in a reckless manner while under the influence of alcohol on the early morning of August 19, 2012. His reckless driving ultimately led to the death of Kaishauna Thunder, who was walking alongside State Highway 1 at approximately 3:00 a.m.

Johnson was charged with the crime in 2013, but the indictment was unsealed after his initial appearance in court today. The indictment alleges that Johnson killed Thunder without malice, but the circumstances of the incident are being scrutinized by authorities.

The indictment is the result of a joint investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Red Lake Tribal Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Clifford B. Wardlaw is handling the prosecution.

The case is a disturbing reminder of the dangers of drunk driving and the importance of holding individuals accountable for their actions. If convicted, Johnson faces a potential maximum penalty of eight years in prison. However, all sentences will be determined by a federal district court judge.

An indictment is a determination by a grand jury that there is probable cause to believe that offenses have been committed by a defendant. A defendant, of course, is presumed innocent until he or she pleads guilty or is proven guilty at trial.

The Red Lake Indian Reservation is a federal-jurisdiction reservation, and some of the crimes that occur there are investigated by the FBI in conjunction with the Red Lake Tribal Police Department. Those cases are prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

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