Okreek Man Sentenced For Assault By Strangulation And Suffocation

United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that an Okreek, South Dakota, man convicted of Assault by Strangulation and Suffocation was sentenced on January 5, 2015, by U.S. District Court Judge Roberto A. Lange.

Joe Scott, age 36, was sentenced to 27 months in custody, 2 years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Scott was indicted by a federal grand jury on April 22, 2014.  He pled guilty on October 27, 2014.

The conviction stems from an incident on or about March 23, 2014, when Scott, his girlfriend and her three children were traveling from Mission to Okreek, where Scott lives.  Scott was intoxicated, and he started to argue with his girlfriend and threatened her.  While she was driving, he struck her and put his hands around her throat, which impacted her normal breathing and the circulation of blood in her neck and throat.  He also reached over from the passenger seat and grabbed the steering wheel and directed the vehicle across the centerline and toward oncoming vehicles.  The victim fought to retain control of the steering wheel and was able to get the vehicle back into the proper lane.  Once at their destination, Scott struck, pinned, and strangled the victim again.

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

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