Opinion ID: 2213607
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Rock Throwing Incident

Text: Approximately forty-five minutes later, McCloskey and his friends were at Ruben McCloskey's duplex apartment. Boutchee and his companions drove by the residence several times before stopping near the end of the block. According to McCloskey, Boutchee and his friends got out of the car armed with weaponsBoutchee with a machete. In response, McCloskey and his group threw rocks and other objects at them. One of McCloskey's friends called the police. Boutchee and his friends gave inconsistent reasons for being in the vicinity of Ruben's house. Boutchee stated that as they drove past the duplex the McCloskey group threw rocks at his car. He further stated that he immediately stopped the car to check for damage and observed McCloskey and his friends running toward him. Boutchee testified that he pulled out a machete in self-defense and merely held it to stand his ground. He stated that he always keeps the machete in his car and uses it for camping and fishing purposes. Believing that one of the attackers had a gun, he and his friends jumped back into the car and left. The police responded to the call and spoke with McCloskey. Officer Persing testified that McCloskey told him that Boutchee stood outside the duplex swinging the machete and telling McCloskey not to appear in court. The police located Boutchee in the parking lot of a submarine sandwich shop about five minutes later. McCloskey then made a citizen's arrest of Boutchee. A jury trial was held on June 16 and 17, 1986. Boutchee was found guilty of tampering with a witness only on count two, the rock throwing incident. He was sentenced to serve two years in the South Dakota State Penitentiary.