Eagle Butte Man Sentenced for Assaulting a Federal Officer

United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that an Eagle Butte, South Dakota, man charged with Assaulting, Resisting, Opposing, and Impeding a Federal Officer was sentenced on April 30, 2018, by U.S. District Court Judge Roberto A. Lange.

Pete Knight, age 55, was sentenced to 6 months in custody, an additional 6 months of home confinement, 18 months of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Knight was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 14, 2017, for Assaulting, Resisting, Opposing, and Impeding a Federal Officer.  Knight was found guilty of that charge by a jury on February 7, 2018.

The conviction stems from an incident that took place on May 8, 2017, in Ziebach County, South Dakota.  On that day, Ziebach County Sheriff, Gary Cudmore made a traffic stop on a vehicle.  During the course of the traffic stop, Knight and another individual stopped at the location of the traffic stop, as the vehicle stopped by Sheriff Cudmore belonged to Knight.  Knight requested to talk to the driver and the sheriff allowed it.  As soon as the door to the patrol vehicle was opened, Knight began to physically assault the driver, who was handcuffed behind his back and defenseless.  Sheriff Cudmore was able to pull Knight back.  Knight continued to attempt to get through Sheriff Cudmore to get at the driver.  In the process, Knight shoved Sheriff Cudmore.  Knight eventually left the scene.