United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that Deborah Beardsley, age 50, of Lower Brule, South Dakota, pled guilty to a Superseding Information that charged her with Simple Assault.
Beardsley was sentenced on July 15, 2013, by U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno to 6 months of imprisonment and a $10 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
The charge stems from an incident occurring on Feb. 12, 2013, when Beardsley and her uncle were drinking together and an argument ensued about Beardsley’s daughter. Beardsley became upset at the victim and retrieved a butcher knife, raised it shoulder high and swung it down in an attempt to stab the victim. The victim was able to avoid being stabbed, but both parties have stipulated that Beardsley swung the knife with the intent to do bodily harm to the victim.
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges prosecuted the case.
Beardsley was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
