Eagle Butte Man Pleads Guilty To Assaulting A Federal Officer

United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that Colton White Feather, age 18, of Eagle Butte, South Dakota, appeared before U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange on July 11, 2013, and pled guilty to the Indictment that charged him with Assaulting a Federal Officer. 

The maximum penalty upon conviction is 8 years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, or both; 3 years of supervised release, and an additional 2 years of supervised release upon revocation. Restitution and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund may also be ordered. 

The conviction stems from an incident on or about November 23, 2012, when two Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal Police Officers were called to the defendant’s residence in Eagle Butte to respond to a fight between White Feather and another person.  After arriving and being let into the house, one of the officers had contact with the defendant in a back bedroom.  During that contact, the defendant became upset when he learned he was going to be arrested for underage consumption, and to avoid arrest he had physical contact with the officer.  At the time of the unlawful assault, the police officer was engaged in the performance of his official duties as law enforcement.       

The investigation was conducted by the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mikal Hanson prosecuted the case.  White Feather was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending sentencing which has been set for September 30, 2013.

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