Mission Man Charged with Assaulting a Federal Officer

United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that a Mission, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer.

Roger Watts, age 34, was indicted on February 15, 2017.  He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on July 20, 2017, 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 or about January 20, 2017, Watts assaulted a federal law enforcement officer.

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

The investigation is being conducted by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson is prosecuting the case.   

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