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Unlike Ravnsborg, Inattentive Aberdeen Driver Kills Groton Motorcyclist, Immediately Faces Manslaughter Charge

Five days ago, 19-year-old Carson Maunu of Aberdeen killed 27-year-old Casey Kulm of Groton. Kulm was motorcycling south late Friday night on 387th Street two and a half miles north miles north of my house here in Aberdeen; Maunu was driving north in his pickup. Near 129th Street, Maunu crossed into the southbound lane. The motorcycle and pickup crashed. Kulm died. Maunu suffered no injuries.

Brown County State’s Attorney Ernest Thompson has preliminarily charged Maunu with reckless driving, hit and run, and second-degree manslaughter. Maunu makes his first appearance in court on Friday.

A young Aberdeen man kills a Groton man through what looks like inattentive driving, and within a week, he goes to court and faces charges including manslaughter.

Nine months ago, Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg killed Joe Boever of Highmore through inattentive driving. The state’s attorney in Hyde County took five and a half months to figure out a way to see the evidence of Ravnsborg’s inattentive driving didn’t support manslaughter charges.

Either the Brown County state’s attorney is quicker on the uptake, or Maunu must not be friends with the sheriff.

11 Comments

  1. Porter Lansing 2021-06-09 12:24

    American justice hinges on whether the perpetrator has sufficient funds to hire a powerful attorney or not.

    If so, District Attorneys invariably won’t bring charges. If not, as with unarmed minorities being beaten and killed by police, the hounds are released.

  2. leslie 2021-06-09 12:54

    Annoying as I find “aww shucks” SD pub radio anchor Lori Walsh’s delivery, she just played a 2017 snippet of Mayor Don Barnett’s leadership in the 6.9.72 RC flood/aftermath. Kristi Fusty Marion and Thune each had their chance at greatness as the pandemic slow rolled the world. Dusty wore a mask July 3, 2020. That’s it.

    No greatness in SD Republican leadership.

  3. Mark Anderson 2021-06-09 14:03

    Well at least there’s justice in Aberdeen.

  4. Arlo Blundt 2021-06-09 14:20

    Well…Porter Lansing is on top of this one. The driver is 19, relatively powerless to defend himself meaningfully. This young man’s life is just beginning and I hope an attorney of note steps forward to see that justice is done and that the young man’s future is also a consideration in melding that justice. It was a tragedy of youthful indiscretion.

  5. Darrell Solberg 2021-06-09 16:58

    No doubt in my mind that the majority party is hoping the public will forget the incident so that they can sweep it under the rug. Corruption, incompetence, and failure to uphold the law is evident with the sheriff, States Attorney and the South Dakota administration. How many EB-5’s; Gear up’s; and Joe Boevers tragic death at the hands of South Dakota’s Attorney General are the people going to put up with, before they open their eyes in the voting booth. There are too many questions that remain regarding these incident. 6 deaths and counting!!!

  6. mike from iowa 2021-06-09 17:27

    Youthful indiscretioins for a number of prominent magats lasted well into their 40s and beyond, Mr Blundt. Talking dumbass dubya, former SOH from Illinois, Denny Hastert and others.

  7. John Kennedy Claussen, Sr., 2021-06-09 18:28

    What about a car share program? Does Brown County have a program, like in Hyde County, where a potential defendant can borrow an officer’s personal car to continue on their travels after an “initial investigation” of a tragic accident?

  8. Porter Lansing 2021-06-09 19:56

    Speaking of a car share program.

    Net Jets could save SD a lot of money and put a leash on your runaway dog Governor.

  9. Wayne 2021-06-10 07:39

    Arlo, that’s a youthful indiscretion that got another young man killed.

    I see dozens of people each day on their cell phones – talking with their thumbs – as I go about my life. We are addicted to these devices, and it’s costing us dearly.

    Aside from Porter’s astute observations, what looks to be a key differential here is in the levied charges; hit and run. If this young person left the scene, then law enforcement is going to arrest them. At that point, the state’s attorney already has evidence of a crime, so you might as well tag on the rest (partly under the premise that innocent folks don’t run).

  10. mike from iowa 2021-06-10 08:26

    I said, upon first reading of charges against Ravnsborg,he left the scene of a personal injury accident more than once.and should have been charges much more seriously.

  11. Wayne 2021-06-14 08:34

    Mike, I know you did. The difference being the Sheriff sent Ravnsborg home. The prosecutor would have a tough time levying a charge for hit & run if law enforcement gave you the green light to leave.

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