Hot Springs Woman Found Not Guilty

United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that a Hot Springs, South Dakota, woman, Rebecca Sotherland, was found not guilty on December 8, 2015, of Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law, Assault With a Dangerous Weapon, and Obstruction of a Federal Investigation after a federal jury trial in Rapid City.  Sotherland was indicted on August 26, 2014.   

The charges relate to an incident on August 15, 2014, at Manderson, when Sotherland, who was at the time an Oglala Sioux Tribe police officer, was arresting a man, in the course of which she repeatedly used her Taser.

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah Collins, Kevin Koliner, and Jared Fishman prosecuted the case.