Swiftbird Man Charged with Assault

United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Swiftbird, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Aggravated Sexual Abuse, Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, Assault by Strangulation and Suffocation, Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, and Assault Resulting in Substantial Bodily Injury to an Intimate Partner.

Raven Different Horse, age 27, was indicted on May 22, 2018.  He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on June 7, 2018, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.

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

The Indictment alleges that on January 23, 2018, Different Horse assaulted his intimate partner sexually, with a dangerous weapon, and by suffocation, which caused serious bodily injury.

The charges are merely accusations and Different Horse is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. 

The investigation is being conducted by the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Service.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Miller is prosecuting the case.   

Different Horse was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial.  A trial date has not been set.