Pine Ridge Man Indicted for Assault

United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Pine Ridge, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for using his shod feet to assault another man at Pine Ridge on March 12, 2012.

Samuel Daniel Nelson, age 25, was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 19, 2012, for Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury and Assault with a Dangerous Weapon. Nelson appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on July 30, 2012, and pled not guilty to the indictment. The maximum penalty upon conviction on each charge is 10 years' imprisonment and/or a $250,000 fine. The charges are merely accusations, and Nelson is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The investigation is being conducted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Justice Services, and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety. Special Assistant United States Attorney Laura A. Shattuck is prosecuting the case. Nelson was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal. A trial date has been set for October 2, 2012.