McLaughlin Man Sentenced for Assault

ABERDEEN - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced a McLaughlin, South Dakota, man convicted of Simple Assault and Assault by Striking, Beating and Wounding.

Kenton Wynn Walks, age 39, was sentenced to one year and four months in federal prison, followed by one year of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $35.

Walks was indicted by a federal grand jury in July of 2022 and was found guilty on May 22, 2024, following a two-day jury trial.

This conviction arose from an assault that took place on April 22, 2022, in McLaughlin, within the Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation. The victim in this matter was laying on the ground, working on a vehicle, when Walks walked up to the victim and kicked him in the head. The victim suffered a laceration on the rear right side of his head, which produced a significant amount of blood and caused him to lose consciousness. The laceration was approximately three inches long and required six staples to be closed.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs – Office of Justice Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges prosecuted the case.

Walks was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service following his sentencing.