Guilty Plea In Simple Assault Case

United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that Ta-Sunka-Hinz Thunder Hawk, age 18, of Blackfoot, South Dakota, appeared before U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange on July 23, 2013, and pled guilty to a Superseding Information that charged him with Simple Assault. 

The maximum penalty upon conviction is 6 months of imprisonment and a $5,000 fine, or both.  Restitution and a $10 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund may also be ordered. 

The conviction stems from an incident in March of 2013 when Thunder Hawk went into a room at the Tiospaye Topa High School and grabbed the victim in a bear hug.  The victim, who was working at the school, was forced to struggle in order to get free. 

The investigation was conducted by the Cheyenne River Tribal Law Enforcement Services.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Mikal Hanson prosecuted the case. 

Thunder Hawk was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending sentencing which has been set for October 14, 2013.