South Dakota Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg pleaded “no contest” to two misdemeanor traffic charges related to the highway death of Joe Boever last September near Highmore.

University of South Dakota Law School Dean Neil Fulton says that plea is common where a related civil case is possible…

Fulton says a guilty plea would open a defendant up to more liability in a civil case…

Ravnsborg was charged with two traffic related violations rather than a felony charge of vehicular homicide or manslaughter. Fulton says state law sets a high bar to prove those felonies…

Governor Kristi Noem issued a statement critical of the outcome, saying the Attorney General should resign or be impeached by the legislature.

Ravnsborg has said he intends to continue in office and has been making appearances around the state in advance of running for reelection next year.