Chamberlain Man Sentenced On Burglary Charges

United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Chamberlain, South Dakota, man convicted of Third Degree Burglary and Burglary of a United States Post Office was sentenced on October 28, 2014, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange.

James Short Bear, age 19, was sentenced to 15 months in custody on each count to be served concurrently, 2 years of supervised release on each count to be served concurrently, $1,040.88 in restitution to Crow Creek Housing, $1,206.85 in restitution to the Crow Creek Food Distribution Program, and $7,976.40 to the United States Postal Service, Chamberlain Post Office.  A special assessment of $200 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund was also ordered.
         
Short Bear was indicted by a federal grand jury on March 11, 2014, for the Third Degree Burglary charge, and was indicted again on April 15, 2014, on the Burglary of a U.S. Post Office charge.  He pled guilty on August 11, 2014, to both charges.
         
The first conviction stems from an incident which happened between February 10, 2014, and February 11, 2014, when Short Bear broke into the Crow Creek Housing Authority Office in Fort Thompson and stole two checkbooks.  Short Bear attempted to cash one of the reported stolen checks at the Wells Fargo Bank in Lower Brule.  However, he was recognized and law enforcement was summoned.  During the investigation, law enforcement was contacted by the Crow Creek Food Distribution Program in Fort Thompson who discovered that Short Bear had attempted to enter their building on February 10, 2014. 

The second conviction stems from an incident which happened between March 2, 2014, and March 3, 2014, when Short Bear broke into the Chamberlain Post Office by breaking the postmaster’s door.  He stole a postal money order in the amount of $210.  He also stole a check made out to AT&T.  He changed the payee name on that check and attempted to cash it at a local bank. 
         
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Crow Creek Agency, and the United States Postal Inspection Service.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges prosecuted the case.
         
Short Bear was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.