Mission Man Sentenced for Assault with a Dangerous Weapon and Failure to Register as a Sex Offender

United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that a Mission, South Dakota, man convicted of two counts of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon and Aiding and Abetting, one count of Prohibited Person in Possession of Ammunition, and two counts of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender was sentenced on March 28, 2016, by U.S. District Court Judge Roberto A. Lange.

Richard Timothy Fool Bull, age 38, was sentenced to 117 months in custody, followed by 5 years of supervised release, $500 in special assessments to the Federal Crime Victims Fund, and $661.25 in restitution.

          On February 10, 2015, Fool Bull was indicted by a federal grand jury for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. On March 11, 2015, Fool Bull was indicted by a federal grand jury for Discharge of a Firearm During Crime of Violence, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Failure to Register as a Sex Offender, and six counts of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon.  He pled guilty on January 7, 2016, to two counts of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon and Aiding and Abetting, one count of Prohibited Person in Possession of Ammunition, and two counts of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender.

          Fool Bull pled guilty to a violation of Sexual Abuse of a Minor on October 20, 1998, in U.S. District Court for the District of South Dakota.  Between November 14, 2014, and December 9, 2014, and between January 31, 2015, and March 1, 2015, Fool Bul1, a person required to register under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, and a sex offender by reason of a conviction under Federal Law, failed to properly register as a sex offender.

On November 14, 2014, Fool Bull was released from federal custody following incarceration for supervised release violations in an unrelated case.  Fool Bull was directed to report to a halfway house in Sioux Falls immediately following his release.  Fool Bull did not report to the halfway house, and he absconded from his federal supervision.  Fool Bull was arrested on December 9, 2014.  Fool Bull did not register as a sex offender with any jurisdiction, as required, between the date of his release from federal custody on November 14, 2014, and the date of his arrest on December 9, 2014.

On January 13, 2015, Fool Bull was released from federal custody following incarceration for supervised release violations in an unrelated case.  Fool Bull was placed at the Glory House in Sioux Falls.  On January 14, 2015, Fool Bull registered as a sex offender with the Sioux Falls Police Department.  On January 31, 2015, Fool Bu1l absconded from the Glory House.  Fool Bull was arrested on May 26, 2015.  Fool Bull did not register as a sex offender with any jurisdiction, as required, between January 31, 2015, and the date of his arrest on May 26, 2015.

On the evening of February 27, 2015, Fool Bull drove to Sunrise Apartments in Mission, with James Iron Ring and a juvenile.  Iron Ring and the juvenile remained in the vehicle while Fool Bull approached the apartment.  Fool Bull stood outside of the apartment and discharged a firearm eight times into the apartment.  Iron Ring then drove Fool Bull and the juvenile away from the apartments.

Five individuals were inside of the apartment at the time of the shooting.  One of the bullets struck a victim in the arm.  The bullet was slowed by traveling through the walls of the apartment and the bullet did not break the skin on the victim’s arm. 

James Iron Ring has pled guilty to one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon and Aiding and Abetting.  Iron Ring’s sentencing is currently scheduled for June 1, 2016.

          This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service and Rosebud Sioux Tribal Law Enforcement Services.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Carrie G. Sanderson prosecuted the case.

          Fool Bull was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

# # #