Judge sentences man in beating death, said victim drank too much of his booze

Corey Ross (Codington County Jail)

WATERTOWN, S.D. (KFGO KWAT) – A Watertown man was sentenced to 15 years in prison for killing another Watertown man last fall in a dispute over alcohol.

Police were called to the home of Corey Ross on September 11 where they found Ronnie Silas dead.

Ross was charged with aggravated assault and pleaded guilty December 18.

Codington County State’s Attorney Alison Bakken says Ross and Silas were drinking heavily the night of the killing. At some point, she says Ross became, “blackout drunk,” got upset with Silas for drinking too much of his alcohol and beat him. He then dragged Silas by the ankles to another part of the home and left him on his side. An autopsy later showed Silas died of positional asphyxia.

Bakken says Ross’s blood-alcohol content the following day was .195.

She says Silas had been dead for about 12 hours before his body was discovered.