Rapid City Man Sentenced for Assault by Strangulation and Suffocation and Escape

United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Assault by Strangulation and Suffocation and Escape from Custody was sentenced on September 23, 2019, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange.

Roger James Spider, II, a/k/a Roger Spider, Jr., age 29, was sentenced to a total of 40 months in federal prison.  He was sentenced to 37 months in federal prison for Assault by Strangulation and Suffocation, and 3 months in federal prison for Escape from Custody, with such sentences to be served consecutively, followed by 3 years of supervised release.  Spider was also ordered to pay a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $200.

The conviction for Assault by Strangulation and Suffocation stemmed from an incident that occurred on April 24, 2018, in Mission, South Dakota.  On that date, Spider assaulted his girlfriend by grabbing her by the throat and strangling her until she began to lose consciousness.  Spider was indicted by a federal grand jury on July 17, 2018.  He pled guilty on July 1, 2019.

The conviction for Escape from Custody stemmed from conduct that occurred in January 2019, while Spider was in custody pending trial.  On January 18, 2019, Spider was granted a furlough to undergo a medical evaluation in Rapid City on January 22, 2019.  Spider subsequently failed to return from the furlough and was arrested in Rapid City on January 26, 2019.  Spider was indicted by a federal grand jury on February 12, 2019.  He plead guilty on July 1, 2019.

These cases were investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Rapid City Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the cases.

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