United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a St. Francis, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Assault with a Dangerous Weapon and Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury.
Westlee Ford, age 20, was indicted on Aug. 21, 2013. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on September 6, 2013, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is 10 years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The charges stem from an incident that occurred in June 2013 when Ford allegedly stabbed the victim in the chest, back, shoulder, and arm with a knife. The charges are merely accusations and Ford is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tim Maher is prosecuting the case.
Ford was released to a third party custodian pending trial. No trial date has been set.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
