Pine Ridge Man Indicted For Assault

United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Pine Ridge man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for assaulting another man with an axe handle.

Xavier Valeriean Long, age 49, was indicted by a federal grand jury on August 23, 2011, for Assault with a Dangerous Weapon and Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on September 2, 2011, and pled not guilty to the indictment. The maximum penalty upon each conviction is 10 years of imprisonment and/or a $250,000 fine. The charges are merely accusations, and Long is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The investigation is being conducted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah B. Collins is prosecuting the case. Long was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal. A trial date has not yet been set.