14-year-old man convicted of second-degree murder requests sentence reduction

RAPID CITY, SD (KOTA) – Ronald Black Cloud, 20, appeared in Seventh Circuit Court to request a 10-year reduction of his 40-year sentence. Black Cloud was sentenced in February 2022 for his second-degree murder charge. He was 14 years old at the time of the fatal shooting of Nathan Graham in 2018.

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Black Cloud’s attorneys argued that his current sentence would be detrimental to him when he is released, as he will have no real-world experience at that time. They went on to explain how well Black Cloud has done while in prison and cited his attendance at behavioral therapy classes as something that he found helpful.

State Attorney Lara Roetzel agreed with Black Cloud’s attorney before objecting to the motion on behalf of Graham’s wife.

“I think the court should look at the progress that (Black Cloud) has made, we should recognize that,” Roetzel said.

After reflecting on the case and taking both arguments into consideration, Judge Matthew Brown denied the reduction.

“I’ve been involved in this case from the beginning. This is the most difficult case that has come before this courtroom since I took office,” Brown said.

Brown added that he acknowledges that Black Cloud has done well in prison, but also acknowledged that the effects of Black Cloud’s actions are still being felt.

“It was difficult when I sentenced you,” Brown said before rejecting Black Cloud’s motion, saying the original sentence was appropriate.

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Black Cloud will be eligible for parole in June 2038.

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