Pine Ridge Man Charged with Assaulting an Infant

RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a federal grand jury has indicted a Pine Ridge, South Dakota, man for Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury against a minor victim.

Sinte White Butterfly, age 25, was indicted in September of 2024. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta Wollmann on September 30, 2024, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.

The penalty upon conviction is a mandatory minimum of 10 years up to life in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, five years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.

The charge stems from White Butterfly assaulting a two-month-old infant and causing serious bodily injury to the infant in August of 2024.

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

This matter is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State court.

The investigation is being conducted by the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Lindrooth is prosecuting the case. 

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