McLaughlin Man Charged with Domestic Assault by an Habitual Offender

United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that a McLaughlin, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Domestic Assault by an Habitual Offender.

George Little Eagle, Jr., a/k/a Gaylan Little Eagle, age 31, was indicted on March 15, 2017. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge William D. Gerdes on March 21, 2017, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.

The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 5 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 February 13, 2017, Little Eagle unlawfully committed a domestic assault upon his intimate partner, when at the time of the domestic assault, Little Eagle had a final conviction on at least two separate prior occasions for offenses that would have been, if subject to federal jurisdiction, an assault against a spouse of intimate partner.

The charge is merely an accusation and Little Eagle is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The investigation is being conducted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Standing Rock Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy R. Morley is prosecuting the case.

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