Eagle Butte Man Sentenced for Assault with a Dangerous Weapon

United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that an Eagle Butte, South Dakota, man convicted of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon was sentenced on December 20, 2016, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange.

Walter Hanson, Jr., age 31, was sentenced to 48 months in custody, 3 years of Supervised Release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.

          Hanson was indicted by a federal grand jury on April 13, 2016.  He pled guilty on October 4, 2016.

          The conviction stemmed from an incident on January 13, 2016, when some people met up with Hanson and started drinking and socializing, while driving around Eagle Butte, and then going towards Cherry Creek.  Along the way, Hanson and the other male got into a verbal argument.  Hanson used a knife to slit the victim’s throat just below the jaw line.  Hanson got out of the car and ran away while the victim went inside his mother’s home to get help.  A total of 29 sutures were used to close the laceration.

          This case was investigated by the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Miller prosecuted the case.

          Hanson was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.