Adair County Resident Pleads Guilty To Armed Felony Assault

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Runningbear Pettit, age 23, of Bunch, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country, punishable by up to ten years in prison and a $250,000.00 fine.  Pettit also pleaded guilty to one count of using, carrying, brandishing and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, punishable by up to ten years in prison and a $250,000.00 fine.

The Indictment alleged that on January 30, 2025, Pettit assaulted the victim with a dangerous weapon, intending to do bodily harm.  The Indictment further alleged that on January 30, 2025, Pettit knowingly used, carried, brandished, and discharged a firearm during and in relation to that crime of violence.

The crimes occurred in Adair County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service, and the Stilwell Police Department.

The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.

A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Pettit will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin Gross and Michael E. Robinson represented the United States.