FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:    Monday, January 7, 2019

CONTACT:  Tim Bormann (605) 773-3215

PIERRE, S.D. –  Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg announced today that Joseph Michael Schmitz, 48, Madison, SD, has pled guilty to First Degree Manslaughter, a Class C felony, punishable by up to life imprisonment in the state penitentiary and/or $50,000 fine.

The charge alleges that on April 27, 2016, Schmitz had a confrontation with the victim, Corina Booth.  During the confrontation Schmitz discharged a pistol, causing the death of Ms. Booth.

As part of the plea Schmitz will be sentenced in June of 2019.  Schmitz will be required to pay court costs, transcript costs, court-appointed attorney fees, expert fees, private investigator fees, testing fees, and any other costs of prosecution allowed by law as directed by the Court at sentencing.

This case was investigated by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, the Madison Police Department and the South Dakota Highway patrol and is being prosecuted by the Attorney General’s Office.

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