Lower Brule Man Charged With Third Degree Burglary

United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Lower Brule, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Third Degree Burglary.

James Short Bear, age 18, was indicted on March 11, 2014. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on March 13, 2014, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.

The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 5 years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, 2 years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.  Restitution may also be ordered.

The Indictment alleges that on February 10, 2014, Short Bear unlawfully entered and remained in an unoccupied structure, with the intent to commit the crime of larceny.

The charge is merely an accusation and Short Bear is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
 
The investigation is being conducted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges is prosecuting the case.   

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