Lower Brule Woman Charged with Assault

United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Lower Brule, South Dakota, woman has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer.

Candace Byington, age 36, was indicted on August 16, 2017.  She appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on April 3, 2018, 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 April 27, 2017, Byington forcibly assaulted, resisted, opposed, impeded, intimidated, and interfered with a correctional officer of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, while said officer was engaged in the performance of his official duties, and said conduct involved physical contact with the correctional officer.

The charge is merely an accusation and Byington 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.   

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