United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that a Fort Thompson, South Dakota, woman convicted of Child Abuse was sentenced on May 15, 2017, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange.
Bonita Keeble, a/k/a Bonita Hare, age 35, was sentenced to 14 months in custody, followed by 2 years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Keeble was indicted by a federal grand jury on April 13, 2016. She pled guilty on Feb. 21, 2017.
The conviction stems from an incident on July 27, 2015, when an officer with the Bureau of Indian Affairs was flagged down by Keeble standing in front of a residence. Keeble stated she was drunk and needed a ride home. The officer agreed to give her a ride, but Keeble then wanted to stop by her babysitter's house who was keeping her 24-day old son. The officer agreed to stop by the residence. The babysitter agreed to let Keeble in as long as she would go to sleep. When Keeble went into the home, her son was asleep in his car seat in a back bedroom with the babysitter. Keeble, who when interviewed, indicated she was very intoxicated, took her son, woke him up and tried to unsuccessfully nurse him. Keeble then got into the top twin bunk bed with him in her right arm. They eventually went to sleep. Keeble woke up the next morning, and her son was not breathing, and had her hair clenched in his fist. He was pronounced dead at the clinic. Keeble consented to a blood draw which indicated a BAC of.098% several hours after assuming care for her child.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Crow Creek Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges prosecuted the case.
Keeble was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
