Rapid City man sentenced in Nevaeh Brave Heart case

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KEVN) - A Rapid City man was sentenced to one year in county jail on Monday, Jan. 8, in relation to the hit and run that killed Nevaeh Brave Heart, 14.

Jordan Hare was accused of running over Brave Heart on Oct. 15, 2022, after failing to stop at the intersection of North LaCrosse Street and East Van Buren Street.

A trial was scheduled on the hit-and-run charge and then canceled three days prior. The state said they could not find evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that Hare knew he hit Brave Heart with his pickup. They then presented him with the plea deal that would charge him with obstructing a public officer, a class 1 misdemeanor charge, which carries a maximum penalty of one year in jail.

The plea deal required Hare to plead guilty to the misdemeanor charge, which would get rid of the original hit-and-run charge, a class 6 felony.

Police were able to track the vehicle to a Rapid City home by using security photos and videos. Initially, they arrested Hare for failure to stop his vehicle and destruction of evidence, accusing him of washing his truck and rims after the crash.

Two people close to Brave Heart’s family spoke in court, urging the judge to impose the maximum sentence that can be given to someone for this crime, which is one year.

After taking into consideration Hare’s lack of criminal history, Judge Matthew Brown gave Hare the maximum sentence due to the unique nature of the crime.

No restitution will be paid as the court could not find any connection between the injuries inflicted on Brave Heart and Hare’s attempt to cover up the crime.

Copyright 2024 KEVN. All rights reserved.