Stuart Cochran, Sr., Second Degree Murder, South Dakota 2023

South Dakota Man Sentenced for Second Degree Murder

A Dupree, South Dakota, man was sentenced to 16 years in federal prison for his role in a second degree murder case. Stuart Cochran, Sr., age 50, was convicted of Second Degree Murder and sentenced on October 11, 2023, by Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court.

The crime occurred on June 25, 2022, when Cochran was driving home to Dupree and observed the victim walking on the shoulder of US Hwy 212 near Eagle Butte, SD. Cochran, who bore a grudge against the victim based on past altercations, pulled up next to the victim and exchanged profanities. After the gun did not fire the first time, Cochran racked the pistol slide and pulled the trigger again, shooting the victim in the face and killing him.

This case was investigated by the FBI and Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem prosecuted the case.

Cochran was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. In addition to his prison sentence, he was also ordered to serve four years of supervised release and pay a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.

The sentencing comes after Cochran pleaded guilty on July 11, 2023, to the charges brought against him. He was indicted by a federal grand jury in July 2022.

According to the charges, Cochran was driving home to Dupree when he observed the victim walking on the shoulder of US Hwy 212 near Eagle Butte, SD. He pulled up next to the victim and exchanged profanities before pulling out a pistol and shooting the victim in the face.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sd/pr/dupree-sd-man-sentenced-second-degree-murder