Jury Finds Fort Yates Man Guilty of Involuntary Manslaughter

Jury Finds Fort Yates Man Guilty of Involuntary Manslaughter BISMARCK - United States Attorney Drew H. Wrigley announced that on October 3, 2006, Chance Eagle, 20, of Fort Yates, North Dakota, was convicted of Involuntary Manslaughter by a jury verdict of guilty following a two-day trial.

United States District Court Senior Judge Patrick A. Conmy presided over the trial. Rose Edinger, 40, of Selfridge, ND, was killed on February 12, 2005, when a vehicle being driven southbound by Eagle crossed over the center line of the roadway while attempting to negotiate a right curve and struck Edinger's northbound vehicle. The collision occurred south of Fort Yates, ND, on Highway 24 near the Kennel junction. A blood sample was drawn from Eagle approximately three hours after the collision, and laboratory analysis of that sample determined the alcohol concentration to be 0.18%. There were no other occupants in Edinger's vehicle. There were three other occupants in Eagle's vehicle, all of which received minor injuries.

The charge of Involuntary Manslaughter carries a statutory maximum penalty of six years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs - Standing Rock Agency, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the North Dakota Highway Patrol.

Sentencing for Eagle has not been scheduled.

Assistant United States Attorney Rick Volk prosecuted the case.