Pine Ridge Man Sentenced for Voluntary Manslaughter

United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Pine Ridge man charged with Voluntary Manslaughter was sentenced on December 3, 2012, by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Viken. Antointe Bissonette, Jr., age 31, was sentenced to 63 months' imprisonment and 3 years' supervised release and was ordered to pay $100 to the Victim Assistance Fund and restitution in an amount to be determined at a later date.

In February 2012, near Pine Ridge, Bissonette struck another man in the head with a baseball bat after an argument, killing him. He pled guilty on May 31, 2012.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Indian Affairs-Office of Justice Services, and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah B. Collins prosecuted the case.

Bissonette was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshal.