United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Bullhead, South Dakota, woman convicted of Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer was sentenced on May 12, 2014, by U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann.
Darla Yellow Earrings, age 49, was sentenced to 16 months of custody, 3 years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Yellow Earrings was indicted by a federal grand jury on Aug. 21, 2013. She pled guilty on Nov. 18, 2013.
The conviction stems from an incident which happened on or about July 14, 2013, when an officer responded to assist another officer in locating a maroon colored Chevrolet Tahoe that was reportedly involved in a hit and run earlier that day. When the assisting officer entered the Bullhead community, he observed the Tahoe, driven by Yellow Earrings, and it was approaching his position at a high rate of speed. At the same time, the other officer’s vehicle was in pursuit of the Tahoe, and had its emergency lights activated. The assisting officer also activated his lights and sirens in an attempt to stop the vehicle. As the Tahoe continued towards the assisting officer, the vehicle crossed into his lane, still at a high rate of speed, and the officer had to accelerate rapidly and swerve to avoid being struck. The Tahoe refused to slow down and both officers joined in the pursuit and followed it to a private residence. Once the vehicle had stopped, they were able to place Yellow Earrings in custody.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Standing Rock Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy R. Morley prosecuted the case.
Yellow Earrings 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
