Fort Thompson Man Sentenced For Assaulting A Federal Officer

United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that Dwight Rank, age 25, of Fort Thompson, South Dakota appeared before US Magistrate Mark A. Moreno on January 24, 2013 and pled guilty to the Superseding Information that charged him with Assaulting a Federal Officer. The maximum penalty upon conviction is 1 year of imprisonment, $100,000 fine, or both; 1 year of supervised release and 1 additional year of supervised release upon revocation; $25.00 to the Victim Assistance Fund. Restitution may also be imposed.

On January 7, 2012 Rank was driving erratically and was observed by a BIA officer crossing the center line twice and the right fog line twice. The officer activated his emergency lights and siren and attempted to make a traffic stop. Rank stopped his vehicle in the middle of BIA Road 5 and then accelerated and began to drive away. Rank made a U-turn and struck the officer's vehicle before fleeing the scene.

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Assistant United States Attorney Meghan N. Dilges is prosecuting the case. Rank was released on bond pending sentencing on April 3, 2013.