Daniel Charles Murder Conviction Upheld

(Pierre) – Circuit Court Judge John W. Bastian has upheld the first degree murder conviction of Daniel Charles.  Charles was convicted in 2000 for murdering his step-father on a rural Opal ranch.  The murder occurred in 1999. Charles was 14 at the time of the murder.

Charles went before the court in May claiming that he had ineffective legal counsel. He argued that his counsel should have requested their own fingerprint examination. That claim was rejected by the court today. The judge concluded that the defense attorney showed reasonable trial strategy in not requesting their own examination.

Charles has the option of appealing this ruling in the South Dakota Supreme Court.

This case was handled by the South Dakota Attorney General’s Office.

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