Lower Brule Man Charged with Assault

United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that a Lower Brule, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer.

Tristan Johnson, age 19, was indicted on September 12, 2017.  He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on October 4, 2017, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.

The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 8 years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.  Restitution may also be ordered.

The Indictment alleges that on July 29, 2017, Johnson forcibly assaulted, resisted, opposed, impeded, intimidated and interfered with a Correctional Officer from the Bureau of Indian Affairs, while said officer was engaged in the performance of his official duties.   Said conduct involved physical contact with the correctional officer.

The charge is merely an accusation and Johnson 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.   

Johnson was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial.  A trial date has not been set.