Belcourt Man Sentenced for Two Assaults

BISMARCK – U.S. Attorney Timothy Q. Purdon announced that on June 10, 2013, Joey M. Short, 25, Belcourt, N.D., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Daniel L. Hovland on a charge of assault resulting in serious bodily injury and a charge of assault with a dangerous weapon. Short pleaded guilty to the charges on March 14, 2013.

Judge Hovland sentenced Short to serve two years and nine months in federal prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Short was ordered to pay restitution of $17,963.21 and to pay a $200 special assessment to the Crime Victim’s Fund.

On July 18, 2012, Short struck a man in the head with a metal bar. The victim suffered a skull fracture and a concussion and required hospitalization.

On Oct. 19, 2012, Short assaulted another man by striking him in the head with a sledge hammer. The injury required numerous stitches to the victim’s head.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs – Turtle Mountain Agency and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandi Sasse Russell prosecuted the case.