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Press Release

Manderson Man Charged With Assault

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of South Dakota

United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Manderson, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly assaulting another man with a knife on October 8, 2012, at Manderson.

Chris Janis, a/k/a Israel Janis, age 39, was indicted by a federal grand jury on March 19, 2013, for Assault with a Dangerous Weapon and Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury.  Janis appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on April 30, 2013, and pleaded not guilty to the indictment.  The maximum penalty upon conviction is 10 years of imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.  The charges are merely accusations, and Janis is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The investigation is being conducted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Justice Services, and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Wayne Venhuizen is prosecuting the case.  Janis was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal.  A trial date has been set for July 9, 2013.

Updated June 22, 2015