State v. Charles

MILLER, Chief Justice.

[¶ 1.] In this appeal, we affirm a conviction of first degree murder and hold that the trial court did not err in denying a motion for judgment of acquittal or in refusing to instruct the jury on mistake of fact.

FACTS

[¶ 2.] Daniel Charles, who was fourteen years of age during the summer of 1999, lived on a ranch near Opal, South Dakota with his stepfather, Duane Ingalls. Charles’ mother and Ingalls had divorced the previous summer, but Charles returned to live with Ingalls because his mother’s job as a truck driver rendered her unable to care for him. Charles alleged at…