Lower Brule Man Sentenced for Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury

United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that a Lower Brule, South Dakota, man convicted of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury was sentenced on October 5, 2015, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange.

Aaron DeWayne Goodface, III, age 35, was sentenced to 119 months in custody, followed by 3 years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Goodface was indicted by a federal grand jury on May 12, 2015.  He pled guilty on July 13, 2015.

The conviction stems from an incident on April 25, 2015, when the Lower Brule Police Department investigated an incident where Goodface had assaulted his aunt.

The officer entered the residence and saw that the victim was bleeding from her face, and blood was found on pillows, bedding, and some clothing.  Goodface had just gone into the bathroom, and the officer knocked on the door and asked Goodface to exit the bathroom.  Goodface first ignored the officer’s commands, but then opened the door.  The officer ordered him to his knees, and again Goodface ignored him.  The officer ordered him once more to get on his knees and drew his taser gun.  At that point, Goodface complied and was taken into custody.

The victim was taken to the hospital.  A special agent from the Bureau of Indian Affairs was able to speak with the victim, who explained that Goodface hit her in the face multiple times with a flashlight.  The victim had a large gash to her forehead that required several sutures to close the laceration. She also had a second laceration near her right ear that required 2 sutures to close, two fractured ribs, and bleeding on the brain that required regular monitoring.  She spent several days in the hospital.

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

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