Porcupine Man Charged with Assaulting a Federal Officer

United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Porcupine, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Assaulting a Federal Officer.

Ian Spotted Bear, age 24, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta Wollmann and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.

The maximum penalty upon conviction is 8 years in prison, 3 years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.  Restitution may also be ordered.

The charge relates to Spotted Bear pushing, striking, kicking, and physically resisting an officer on August 27, 2019, near Pine Ridge.

The charge is merely an accusation and Spotted Bear 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 Heather Sazama is prosecuting the case.

Spotted Bear was released on bond pending trial.  A trial date has been set for January 7, 2020.