Pine Ridge Man Indicted for Assault

United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that a Pine Ridge, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Assault with a Dangerous Weapon.

Bert Cottier, a/k/a Bert Chang, age 50, was indicted on July 26, 2016, and appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta Wollmann on September 9, 2016.  He pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.

The maximum penalty upon conviction is 10 years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, or both, 3 years of supervised release, and a $100 assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.  Restitution may also be ordered.

The charge relates to Cottier stabbing a man with a knife at Pine Ridge.  The charge is merely an accusation and Cottier is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. 

The investigation is being conducted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Justice Services and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Poppen is prosecuting the case.

Cottier was released pending trial.  A trial date has been set for November 15, 2016.