North Dakota Man Sentenced for Assault

United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that a Bismarck, North Dakota, man convicted of Assault Resulting in Substantial Bodily Injury to a Spouse or Intimate Partner was sentenced on May 31, 2017, by U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann.

Christopher Plenty Chief, age 31, was sentenced to 24 months in custody, followed by 3 years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.

Plenty Chief was indicted by a federal grand jury on October 12, 2016. He pled guilty on January 6, 2017.

The conviction stems from an incident on January 10, 2014, when Bureau of Indian Affairs Law Enforcement was summoned to a residence in Wakpala, South Dakota, upon receiving a report of a domestic violence situation involving Christopher Plenty Chief and his intimate partner. Upon arrival, officers determined that the victim was in need of medical care and summoned an ambulance.

The victim told law enforcement that she and Plenty Chief got into an argument. Plenty Chief began to strike the victim with a closed fist to her face. Someone attempted to stop the assault, but was unsuccessful. Plenty Chief then drug the victim back to his family’s residence and continued to assault her by kicking her several times to the head and body. Plenty Chief’s brother attempted to intervene, which gave an opportunity for the victim to escape the residence and go to her aunt’s house, where law enforcement was summoned. As a result of the assault, the victim suffered multiple facial fractures.

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

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