A 47-year-old Rapid City man was sentenced to prison for a deadly crime that shook the community. Roger Janis, 47, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter after running over a five-year-old child with his pickup truck at Pine Ridge.
The horrific incident occurred on an unspecified date in 2016, when Janis was under the influence of alcohol. His reckless behavior led to the child’s death, leaving behind a family torn apart by grief and anger.
Janis was arrested on June 14, 2016, and later pleaded guilty to the charges on September 9, 2016. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah B. Collins prosecuted the case, bringing justice to the family of the victim. On May 12, 2017, Chief Judge Jeffrey L. Viken, U.S. District Court, handed down a 60-month prison sentence to Janis, followed by 3 years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Janis was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service, marking the beginning of his prison term. The sentence serves as a reminder that driving under the influence can have devastating consequences, and that those responsible will face the full force of the law.
The case is a grim reminder of the importance of road safety and the dangers of impaired driving. As the community continues to heal, the family of the victim can take some comfort in knowing that justice has been served.
Roger Janis, 47, of Rapid City, South Dakota, was charged with involuntary manslaughter. The crime occurred at Pine Ridge in 2016, and Janis was sentenced on May 12, 2017. He was ordered to serve 60 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, and to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
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Key Facts
- State: South Dakota
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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