Pine Ridge Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison

RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Pine Ridge, South Dakota, woman convicted of two counts of Involuntary Manslaughter. The sentencing took place on July 8, 2024.

Janine Faye Good Lance, 45, was sentenced to two-five year terms in federal prison, each to run concurrently, followed by two years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Good Lance was indicted for Involuntary Manslaughter by a federal grand jury in March of 2023. She was found guilty on April 11, 2024, following a three-day jury trial.

On November 18, 2022, Good Lance drove while intoxicated on BIA Highway 18, near Pine Ridge, South Dakota, while her two friends rode in the car with her. Good Lance, who was wearing a seatbelt at the time she crashed, was the sole survivor. The passengers were ejected from the vehicle and killed when it rolled several times. During the trial, Good Lance claimed her front seat passenger grabbed the steering wheel unexpectedly and caused the car to lose control. Troopers with the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Highway Safety testified, however, using crash reconstruction expertise and the vehicle’s “black box” data, and proved Good Lance’s testimony was false. Good Lance had six prior Tribal arrests for driving under the influence, and two convictions in state court for driving under the influence.

This case was investigated by the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety, the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Highway Safety, and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Knox prosecuted the case.

Good Lance must self-surrender to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.