United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that Michael Tobacco, age 21, of Pine Ridge, South Dakota, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on Oct. 31, 2013, and pled guilty to Assault with a Dangerous Weapon.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is 10 years of imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.
The charge relates to Tobacco assaulting a juvenile female at Pine Ridge on June 15, 2013. This assault resulted in the female receiving a severely bruised eye that was swollen shut and numerous bruises all over her upper body.
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Justice Services, and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Kelderman.
A presentence investigation was ordered. The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
