Eagle Butte Man Sentenced for Assaulting a Federal Officer

United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that an Eagle Butte, South Dakota, man convicted of Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer was sentenced on August 29, 2016, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange.

Carlin Brings Horse, Jr., age 38, was sentenced to 6 months in custody,  6 months in home confinement, 2 years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Brings Horse was indicted by a federal grand jury on November 10, 2015.  He pled guilty on May 31, 2016.

The conviction stemmed from an incident in the late evening on June 21, 2015, when Carlin Brings Horse, Jr., went to the Indian Health Services emergency room with his mom and sister, after taking “new meth” claiming he was hallucinating. He was checked out medically and offered a shot of Ativan but refused it, as well as a transfer to behavioral health. Brings Horse was then released from the emergency room.  A few hours later, in the early morning hours of June 22, 2015, Brings Horse and his family arrived back at the emergency room, claiming his chest hurt and his heart was racing again from the “new meth.” Brings Horse also admitted to drinking alcohol and using marijuana that night. He again refused treatment.

Law enforcement arrived at the emergency room and took Brings Horse into tribal protective custody. Once at the detention center, Brings Horse was booked into a holding cell with another inmate. 

Brings Horse began to splash urine water on the other inmate in his cell. Correctional officers entered the cell and told Brings Horse to stop splashing urine water on his cellmate. Brings Horse refused to follow commands and instead splashed urine water on the officers. He was directed to stop and get on the ground. Brings Horse refused and got into a fighting stance. He was told again to get on the ground but refused. The officers approached Brings Horse and a physical altercation began. Brings Horse swung at and hit both officers. One of the officer was able to get Brings Horse around the waist and partially over his shoulder. Brings Horse then bit the officer twice on the back through his shirt. Also during the struggle, the second officer was kicked in the groin area and sustained scrapes to his hand. The officers were finally able to secure Brings Horse in leg and wrist restrains.

This case was investigated by the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges prosecuted the case.

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