ST. MICHAEL, N.D.-The driver of the car that reportedly hit and killed a 5-year-old in St. Michael over the weekend pleaded not guilty to a second-degree homicide charge.
On Saturday, Richard Jackson Sr. was driving a car in St. Michael on Spirit Lake Nation with passengers Lois Chaske, Louis Chaske and Myrna Whiteshield when the car hit and killed the child, according to a statement from Spirit Lake Reservation officials, and the car left the scene.
Jackson was intoxicated at the time of the accident with a BAC of 0.165, the statement says.
The boy killed was Keyden Curtis White Tail, who had graduated from preschool at Little Feather Headstart in Parshall, N.D., two days before the accident, according to a GoFundMe page set up to help his family.
He died Sunday at Fargo's children hospital, according to his obituary with Langhans Funeral Homes.
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"He loved school and went every day," his obituary states. "He loved to build Lego's, play with his cars and ride his bike."
All three passengers in the car were charged in Spirit Lake Tribal Court with unlawful consumption for being under the influence of alcohol on the dry reservation and reckless endangerment for leaving the scene of the accident and failing to render assistance to the child.
All three pleaded guilty to the charges Wednesday and were sentenced to 10 days in jail with all 10 days suspended for a year on the unlawful consumption charges. They must also pay $150 in fines and fees and complete an alcohol and drug evaluation.
The three will be sentenced on the reckless endangerment charges June 8.
Jackson was charged with a DUI, reckless endangerment and second-degree homicide. He pleaded not guilty to the homicide charge, but also pleaded guilty to the DUI and reckless endangerment charges.
For the DUI, Jackson was sentenced to $300 in fees, ordered not to drive on the reservation for 90 days and must complete an alcohol and drug evaluation.
For reckless endangerment, he was sentenced to 365 days in jail with 185 days suspended and $550 in fees.
Jackson is scheduled to meet with the prosecutors Tuesday on the homicide charge. Jury selection is scheduled to begin July 6, and his trial is set for July 20.
