Rapid City Woman Pleads Guilty To Assault Charge

United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that Raylene C. Chips, a/k/a Raelene C. Chips, a/k/a Raelene C. Chipps, age 24, of Rapid City, South Dakota appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on March 14, 2013, and pled guilty to a Superseding Information charging her with Simple Assault. The maximum penalty upon conviction is 6 months’ imprisonment, a $5,000 fine or both, and a period of supervised release of not more than 1 year.

The conviction stems from an incident on the 4th day of May, 2012 when Chips was riding in a car in Mission, South Dakota and the vehicle came upon two women walking along the road and stopped. Two occupants of the vehicle exited and confronted the victim. A fight ensued and Chipps joined in the assault. As a result, the victim sustained a broken jaw, among other injuries.

The investigation was conducted by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy Morley.

A presentence investigation was ordered. A sentencing date has not been set. The Defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending sentencing.