Eagle Butte Man Sentenced for Assaulting Girlfriend

United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that an Eagle Butte man charged with Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury was sentenced on July 18, 2011, by United States District Judge Roberto A. Lange. Leland B. Benoist, age 32, was sentenced to 24 months in custody, three years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Victim Assistance Fund.

Benoist was indicted for Assault with a Dangerous Weapon and Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury by a federal grand jury on December 13, 2010. The charges resulted from an incident, on September 6, 2010, in which Leland Benoist assaulted his girlfriend and seriously injured her by fracturing her right arm in two places. Benoist committed this assault without just cause or excuse. He pled guilty in federal court to Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury on April 18, 2011.

This case was investigated by the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Division, and Assistant United States Attorney Mikal Hanson prosecuted the case.

Benoist was immediately turned over to the custody of the United States Marshal to begin serving his sentence.