Eagle Butte Man Charged with Arson

United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that an Eagle Butte, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Arson.

Stuart Turning Heart, age 44, was indicted on November 14, 2017.  He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on November 22, 2017, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.

The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 25 years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, 5 years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.  Restitution may also be ordered.

The Indictment alleges that on August 14, 2017, Turning Heart willfully and maliciously set fire and burned a building and structure in Eagle Butte.

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

The investigation is being conducted by the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges is prosecuting the case.   

Turning Heart was released on bond pending trial, which has been set for January 23, 2018.