Lower Brule Man Sentenced for Assault

United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that a Lower Brule, South Dakota, man convicted of Assaulting, Resisting and Impeding a Federal Officer and Assault Resulting in Substantial Bodily Injury to a Spouse was sentenced on November 2, 2015, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange.

Ronald Desheuquette, age 57, was sentenced to 14 months in custody, followed by 2 years of supervised release on each count to be served concurrently, and a special assessment of $200 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Desheuquette was indicted by a federal grand jury on May 12, 2015.  He pled guilty on August 11, 2015.

The conviction stemmed from an incident on November 29, 2014, when a Bureau of Indian Affairs officer was called to a residence in Lower Brule advising that a woman had been assaulted. When the officer arrived on scene, he found Desheuquette’s wife with blood on her head and hands, and a cut to her head that required staples to close.  Desheuquette had struck his wife with his fists several times causing the injury.

The officer then proceeded to arrest Desheuquette on domestic abuse charges.  He was transported to the Lower Brule Correctional Facility, and was booked. The officer began to fill out custody request forms, and Desheuquette was making verbal threats towards the officer. Desheuquette then walked up to the officer, while wearing shoes, and intentionally kicked the officer in the lower back.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Crow Creek Agency.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges prosecuted the case.

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