Fort Thompson Woman Charged with Assault and Evidence Tampering

United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Fort Thompson, South Dakota, woman has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Assault with a Dangerous Weapon and Evidence Tampering.

Lisa Walking Bull, age 47, was indicted on November 13, 2019.  She appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on November 22, 2019, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.

The maximum penalty upon conviction is 20 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release, and a $100 assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.  Restitution may also be ordered.

The Indictment alleges that on August 22, 2019, Walking Bull assaulted an individual with a bat with the intent to do bodily harm and then further altered, destroyed, and concealed the bat with the intent to impair its integrity and availability for use in a criminal proceeding.

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

The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy R. Morley is prosecuting the case.   

Walking Bull was released on bond pending trial.  A trial date has not been set.