Dupree Man Charged with Assault of a Federal Officer

United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Dupree, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Assaulting, Resisting, Opposing, and Impeding a Federal Officer.

John Darren Johnson, age 31, was indicted on August 13, 2018. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on September 20, 2018, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.

The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 8 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.  Restitution may also be ordered.

The Indictment alleges that on August 2, 2018, Johnson did forcibly assault, resist, oppose, impede, intimidate, and interfere with a Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Police Officer while the officer was engaged in their official duties, and said contact did involve physical contact with the police officer.

The charge is merely an accusation and Johnson is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. 

The investigation is being conducted by the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Miller is prosecuting the case.   

Johnson was released to a third party custodian pending trial.  A trial date has not been set.