Little Eagle Man Sentenced for Assault

United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that a Little Eagle, South Dakota, man convicted of Domestic Assault by an Habitual Offender was sentenced on September 1, 2017, by U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann.

Charles Eagle Pipe, age 44, was sentenced to 45 months in custody, followed by 3 years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.

Eagle Pipe was indicted by a federal grand jury on March 15, 2017. He pled guilty on June 12, 2017.

The conviction stems from an incident on March 29, 2015, when a Bureau of Indian Affairs officer who was patrolling in Little Eagle, was informed of an incident occurring at the home of the victim. The officer responded and was informed that Eagle Pipe had taken her car, without permission, and returned highly intoxicated. Eagle Pipe refused to return the keys to the victim, assaulted her, then grabbed a knife and began to cut himself with it. Eagle Pipe then went across the street to his mother’s residence. The officer went across the street and placed Eagle Pipe under arrest, following a brief scuffle.

Upon securing Eagle Pipe in the vehicle, the officer went back across the street to where the victim was standing. She showed the officer where Eagle Pipe had thrown the knife, and she also showed the officer marks on her legs where she stated Eagle Pipe had kicked her. At the time of this incident, Eagle Pipe had seven prior convictions for Domestic Abuse in Standing Rock Tribal Court that would have been, if subject to federal jurisdiction, assaults against a spouse or intimate partner.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs Standing Rock Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy R. Morley prosecuted the case.

Eagle Pipe was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.