FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE :  Thursday, December 06, 2012
CONTACT:  Sara Rabern (605)773-3215   

 
Faith Man Sentenced to 25 Years for Vehicular Homicide and Vehicular Battery

 
PIERRE, S.D.- Attorney General Marty Jackley and Haakon County States Attorney Gay Tollefson announced today that Walt Lee Taton, 63, was given the maximum sentence as a result of a crash in rural Haakon County.  Taton was sentenced to serve 15 year for vehicular homicide and 10 years for vehicular battery.  Circuit Court Judge Barnett also ordered that Taton’s driver’s license be revoked for life. In addition, Taton was sentenced to 30 days in the county jail for driving upon the wrong side of the road and one year for driving under the influence. It was furthered ordered that all 4 sentences run consecutively to each other.
Charges stem from a crash on April 28, 2012, in which Taton was driving on the wrong side of the road on Highway 34 in rural Haakon County, resulting in the death of Heather Unser and seriously injuring Sadie Clark.
This case was investigated by the Haakon County Sheriff’s Office, the South Dakota Highway Patrol and the Division of Criminal Investigation.
 

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