Fort Hall Woman Sentenced for Assault with a Dangerous Weapon

POCATELLO – Tanisha Phelps, 20, of Fort Hall, Idaho, was sentenced yesterday to time served, 11 months, including six months in the Shoshone-Bannock Tribal jail and five months in federal custody, for assault with a dangerous weapon, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. Chief United States District Judge B. Lynn Winmill also ordered Phelps to serve an additional six months in a halfway house, followed by three years of supervised release.  Phelps pleaded guilty to the charge on April 11, 2016.

 According to the plea agreement, on December 14, 2014, Fort Hall Police were called to a residence on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation regarding a possible stabbing.  Officers arrived and found that Phelps had cut the victim, a 72 year old female in a wheelchair, on her forearm with a knife.  The victim told police that Phelps was mad because her music had been turned off.  The victim told Phelps to go outside and “cool off.”  Phelps punched the victim in the forehead with her fist and she grabbed two kitchen knives.  Phelps then cut the victim’s forearm with the knife and caused it to bleed.  Phelps was interviewed by police and admitted cutting the victim with the knife.

The case was investigated by the Fort Hall Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.