Ft. Thompson Man Sentenced on Assault Charge

U.S. Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Ft. Thompson man charged with Assault with a Dangerous Weapon was sentenced on September 26, 2011, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange. Phillip St. John, age 33, was sentenced to 32 months in custody, 2 years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.

The charge stems from an incident which occurred in April of 2011 at the Defendant's mother's house in Stephan, South Dakota. At that time and place, an argument began between St. John and the victim which escalated to a physical altercation whereby St. John hit the victim twice in the face with a closed fist, knocking the victim to the ground. At that point St. John began kicking the victim in the head and chest area with shod feet. When the victim tried blocking the kicks, St. John put his foot on the victim's throat and continued to press down. St. John pled guilty to the indictment in July of 2011.

The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Crow Creek Agency. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges.

St. John was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshal to begin serving his sentence.