Eagle Butte woman pleads guilty to assaulting a federal officer

U.S. Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that Charmagne Means, age 27, of Eagle Butte, appeared before U.S. District Judge William R. Wilson, Jr., on October 29, 2012, and pled guilty to a Superseding Information that charged her with Assaulting a Federal Officer. The maximum penalty upon conviction is 1 year of imprisonment, a $100,000 fine, or both.

The conviction stems from an incident on June 3, 2011, when Means and a co-defendant interfered in both a high speed chase and arrest of another individual. Means did not obey repeated orders by law enforcement officers to stop as she and her co-defendant ran toward officers who were arresting the other individual. She was intercepted by an officer and physically resisted arrest.

The investigation was conducted by Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn N. Rich.

A presentence investigation was ordered, and a sentencing date was set for January 24, 2013. The defendant was released on bond pending sentencing.