DEADWOOD, S.D. – A Sturgis man charged with felony D-U-I and child abuse has pleaded not guilty.
Douglas Richard Daniels, Jr. was indicted by a Lawrence County Grand Jury June 22nd.
Authorities accuse Daniels of driving intoxicated on June 6 and crashing the vehicle at a high rate of speed on Boulder Creek Road in Lawrence County.
The highway patrol says Daniels over-corrected and entered into a roll before the vehicle came to rest on its tires. Daniels and his 5-year-old son were not wearing seatbelts. His son was taken to the Sturgis Hospital for treatment of serious, but non-life-threatening injuries.
During conversation with Daniels after the crash, police allegedly observed the odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from his person, his eyes bloodshot and glossy and his speech slurred. Daniels allegedly made admissions of having consumed alcohol recently and field sobriety tests he was asked to perform indicated he was impaired.
Prosecutors say Daniels also was driving with a revoked license and has previous D.U.I. convictions.
He could face up to 15 years in prison if convicted on the child abuse charge.
His next court appearance has been set for August 4th.
