Colorado Man Indicted for Assaulting a Federal Officer

United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a Colorado man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer.

Preston Yankton, age 35, was indicted on December 14, 2021.  He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on June 13, 2022, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.

The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 20 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.  Restitution may also be ordered.

The Indictment alleges that on November 7, 2021, and November 8, 2021, in Todd County, South Dakota, Yankton did assault, oppose, impede, intimidate, and interfere with a law enforcement officers who were employed by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services, and that such conduct involved physical contact.

The charges are merely accusations and Yankton is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. 

The investigation is being conducted by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Abby Roesler is prosecuting the case.   

Yankton was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial.  A trial date has not been set.