Mission Man Sentenced for Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer

United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that a Mission, South Dakota, man convicted of Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer was sentenced on October 30, 2017, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange.

Richard Peneaux, age 23, was sentenced to 24 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100. 

Peneaux was indicted by a federal grand jury on April 12, 2017.  He pled guilty on August 14, 2017.

The conviction stemmed from an incident that occurred on the evening of March 23, 2017, in South Antelope, South Dakota.  On that evening, a Rosebud Sioux Tribe police officer responded to a report of a man walking in the hallways at the Sinte Gleska University campus with no shirt on and carrying two baseball bats.  The officer arrived and subsequently made contact with Peneaux, who was attempting to crawl through an apartment window.  The officer identified himself and ordered Peneaux to drop the bat he was holding.  Peneaux began walking toward the officer with the bat raised, as if to swing it.  He approached within 2-3 yards of the officer, at which point the officer pepper-sprayed Peneaux. Peneaux fled the area, but was subsequently apprehended.

This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.   

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