Eagle Butte Man Sentenced For Assault By Striking, Beating And Wounding

Acting United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that an Eagle Butte, South Dakota, man convicted of Assault by Striking, Beating and Wounding was sentenced on May 8, 2015, by U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno.

Loren LaPlante, Jr., age 24, was sentenced to 18 months of probation, $100.96 in restitution, and $25 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

LaPlante was indicted by a federal grand jury on February 11, 2015.  He pled guilty on March 16, 2015.

The conviction stems from an incident on January 9, 2015, when LaPlante, who was intoxicated in a bar in Dupree, got into a verbal confrontation with an adult male victim who was playing darts.  Once the victim was done playing darts, he approached LaPlante, who sucker-punched the victim in the face. The Defendant’s assault was made without just cause or excuse, and it struck and wounded the victim, who needed medical attention for the injury to his face.

This case was investigated by the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal Law Enforcement Agency.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Mikal Hanson prosecuted the case.