Little Eagle Man Sentenced for Assault with a Dangerous Weapon

United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that a Little Eagle, South Dakota, man convicted of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon was sentenced on May 9, 2016, by U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann.

Dace Bobtail Bear, a/k/a Dace Little Dog, age 19, was sentenced to 28 months in custody, followed by 3 years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Bobtail Bear was indicted by a federal grand jury on December 8, 2015.  He pled guilty on February 17, 2016.

The conviction stemmed from an incident on October 11, 2015, when during the early morning hours, Bobtail Bear was arguing with some people at  a home in Little Eagle.  He knocked a woman to the ground, causing her to call for help.  The victim came out from a bedroom in the home to assist the woman.  Bobtail Bear began to assault the victim, knocking him to the ground, jumping on top of him, and repeatedly striking him.  Others in the home unsuccessfully attempted to get Bobtail Bear to stop.  During the assault, Bobtail Bear grabbed a steak knife and stabbed the victim multiple times. 

Bobtail Bear admitted to the officers the next day that he did, in fact, stab the victim and that he was not acting in self-defense.  As a result of the assault, the victim was treated at Mobridge Regional Hospital.  He suffered a collapsed lung and was required to have a chest tube inserted.

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

Bobtail Bear was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.