McLaughlin Man Charged with Assault of a Federal Officer

United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a McLaughlin, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Assault of a Federal Officer.

Austin Rain Folson, age 19, was indicted on May 22, 2018.  He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge William D. Gerdes on June 4, 2018, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.

The maximum penalty upon conviction is 20 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.  Restitution may also be ordered.

According to the Indictment, Folson committed assault when, on or about the 14th day of March, 2018, Folson forcibly assaulted, resisted, opposed, impeded, intimidated, and interfered with a federal officer while the officer was engaged in the performance of his official duties.  The Indictment alleges that Folson’s assault resulted in the officer sustaining an injury.

The charges are merely an accusation and Folson is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. 

The investigation is being conducted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy R. Jehangiri is prosecuting the case.   

Folson was ordered detained pending trial.  A trial date has been set for August.