Fort Thompson Man Charged With Assault And Robbery

United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Fort Thompson, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Domestic Assault by a Habitual Offender, Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, and Robbery.

Gary Walking Bull, age 36, was indicted on April 22, 2014.  He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on May 12, 2014, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.

The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 15 years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release, and up to $400 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.  Restitution may also be ordered.

The Indictment alleges that between March 21, 2014, and March 22, 2014, and again on April 7, 2014, Walking Bull unlawfully committed domestic assaults against a victim.  At the time of the assaults, Walking Bull had at least two separate prior convictions for assaults that were against a spouse or intimate partner.  In one of the cases, the victim was assaulted with a dangerous weapon and money was taken from her.

The charges are merely accusations and Walking Bull is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. 

The investigation is being conducted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Crow Creek Agency.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges is prosecuting the case.   

Walking Bull was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial which has been set for July 1, 2014.