Wood Man Sentenced For Assault Resulting In Substantial Bodily Injury To An Individual Under Age 16

United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Wood, South Dakota, man convicted of Assault Resulting in Substantial Bodily Injury to an Individual Under Age 16 was sentenced on June 30, 2014, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange.

Elias James LaPointe, age 21, was sentenced to 33 months in custody, 2 years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
         
LaPointe was indicted for Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury and Child Abuse by a federal grand jury on January 15, 2014.  He pled guilty to Assault Resulting in Substantial Bodily Injury to an Individual Under Age 16 on March 31, 2014.
         
On October 23, 2013, LaPointe was caring for the victim at his home in Mellette County.  Approximately mid-morning, LaPointe assaulted the victim, causing a subdural hematoma, an injured jaw, a damaged pancreas, a bruised scrotum, and numerous other hematomas and injuries.  LaPointe did not seek medical treatment for the victim.  At approximately 2:30 p.m. the victim’s mother arrived home and took the victim to the doctor.  The victim was eventually taken to a Sioux Falls hospital.
         
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Tim Maher prosecuted the case.
         
LaPointe was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.