St. Francis Woman Charged with Assaulting a Federal Officer

United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a St. Francis, South Dakota, woman has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer.

Aleah Walking Bull, age 24, was indicted on November 14, 2018.  She appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on August 8, 2019, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.

The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 8 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.  Restitution may also be ordered.

The Indictment alleges that on June 14, 2018, Walking Bull did forcibly assault, resist, oppose, impede, intimidate, and interfere with a law enforcement officer who was employed by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services.

The charge is merely an accusation and Walking Bull is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. 

The investigation is being conducted by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson is prosecuting the case.   

Walking Bull was released on bond pending trial.  A trial date has not been set.