Wakpala Woman Charged with Assaulting a Federal Officer

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

Alyssa Briggs, age 29, was indicted on October 16, 2019.  She appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge William D. Gerdes on October 28, 2019, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.

The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 20 years in federal prison and 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 September 25, 2019, Briggs did forcibly assault, resist, oppose, impede, intimidate, and interfere with Bureau of Indian Affairs officers while the officers were engaged in their official duties, and said conduct involved physical contact and use of a dangerous weapon that is shod feet.

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

The investigation is being conducted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Standing Rock Agency.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirsten Jasper is prosecuting the case.   

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