Skip to main content
Press Release

McLaughlin Man Sentenced For Assaulting A Federal Officer

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of South Dakota

United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a McLaughlin, South Dakota man convicted of Assaulting a Federal Officer was sentenced on May 13, 2013 by U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann.

Ronnie White Mountain, age 44, was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment, 1 year of supervised release and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

White Mountain was indicted for by a federal grand jury in June of 2012. He pled guilty to a Superseding Information on October 15, 2012. The conviction stems from an incident on February 1, 2012 near McLaughlin when a federal law enforcement officer observed White Mountain driving in an erratic manner. The officer followed White Mountain for a period of time, and ultimately activated his lights when the Defendant pulled into a private residence.

The officer made an attempt to determine if White Mountain was under the influence of alcohol but the Defendant refused to comply. When the officer attempted to arrest White Mountain, he became combative and the officer used his Taser. White Mountain removed the leads and charged into the officer.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Standing Rock Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy R. Morley prosecuted the case.

White Mountain was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshal.

Updated June 22, 2015