St. Francis Man Sentenced for Misprision of a Felony

United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a St. Francis, South Dakota, man convicted of Misprision of a Felony was sentenced on January 22, 2018, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange.

Kyle Swift Hawk, age 25, was sentenced to 12 months and 1 day in prison, followed by 1 year of supervised release.  Swift Hawk was also ordered to pay a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.

Swift Hawk was indicted by a federal grand jury on July 11, 2017.  He pled guilty on October 30, 2017.

The conviction stemmed from an incident that occurred in St. Francis in the early morning hours of June 12, 2017.  Swift Hawk and another man, George Scott, got into an altercation with the victim.  While Swift Hawk and the victim scuffled, Scott pulled out a pocketknife and stabbed the victim multiple times.  The victim suffered significant blood loss and internal injuries, and was subsequently hospitalized.  Swift Hawk witnessed the stabbing but fled the scene and hid from tribal law enforcement until he was apprehended later that day. 

Scott, age 32, was also indicted based on his involvement in the assault.  On September 26, 2017, he pled guilty to Assault With a Dangerous Weapon, and was sentenced on December 11, 2017, to 54 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release.

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

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