PIERRE — A federal jury in Pierre has convicted a Lower Brule man on a charge of voluntary manslaughter. U-S Attorney Alison Ramsdell says 32 year-old Joseph Thompson Sr. could face up to 15 years in federal prison and/or a 250-thousand dollar fine when sentenced on the conviction. Thompson was at the home of an acquaintance when he heard a disturbance outside a Lower Brule residence on March 25 of this year. Thompson exited the home, walked around a corner and found a man standing near the home. Thompson stabbed the man five times, one of those pierced the victim’s heart. No evidence was produced that the man stabled had a weapon with him at the time he was stabled. The case quickly moved through the federal court system as the incident happened in March, Thompson was indicted in May and his trial was in July. The Major Crimes Act, mandates certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian County be prosecuted in federal court and not state court.
