The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Billings, on December 7, 2012, before Chief U.S. District Judge Richard F. Cebull, NATHAN LONG SIOUX, SR., a 25-year-old resident of Busby and an enrolled member of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe of Indians, appeared for sentencing. LONG SIOUX was sentenced to a term of:

Prison: 24 months

Special Assessment: $100

Supervised Release: 3 years

LONG SIOUX was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to assault resulting in serious bodily injury.

In an Offer of Proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney E. Vincent Carroll, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:

On the evening of December 19, 2010, T.M.L.S. (hereinafter "the victim"), and LONG SIOUX were at a residence in Busby, which is within the exterior boundaries of the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation. They began arguing over car keys. The victim told law enforcement officers that LONG SIOUX began punching her, and then he hit her in the mouth with a telephone. LONG SIOUX was later interviewed and admitted punching the victim in the face with his fists, but denied hitting her with the telephone.

The victim was taken to the Indian Health Service Clinic in Lame Deer where she received medical care. The treating physician indicated that the victim's injury constituted serious bodily injury.

Because there is no parole in the federal system, the "truth in sentencing" guidelines mandate that LONG SIOUX will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, LONG SIOUX does have the opportunity to earn a sentence reduction for "good behavior." However, this reduction will not exceed 15% of the overall sentence.

The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

 

 

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