Pine Ridge Man Indicted for Assaulting Officer

United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Pine Ridge man was indicted by a federal grand jury for punching an Oglala Sioux Tribal officer in the face while she was attempting to arrest him.

Clarence Janis, age 30, was indicted on June 19, 2012, for Assaulting a Federal Officer. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on November 21, 2012, and pled not guilty to the indictment. The maximum penalty upon conviction is eight years' imprisonment and/or a $250,000 fine. The charge is merely an accusation, and Janis is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The investigation is being conducted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Justice Services and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Kelderman is prosecuting the case. Janis was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal. A trial date has not yet been set.