United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Little Eagle, South Dakota, man convicted of Domestic Assault by a Habitual Offender was sentenced on June 9, 2014, by U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann.
Robert Steele, age 53, was sentenced to 18 months of custody, 2 years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Steele was indicted by a federal grand jury on April 12, 2013. He pled guilty on Jan. 23, 2014.
The conviction stems from an incident on Feb. 19, 2013, when a Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) officer responded to a call that Steele was assaulting an adult female victim. Upon arrival, the victim informed the officer that Steele had assaulted her in the family home. The victim estimated that during the assault she was kicked approximately 5-7 times. The victim had visible injuries to her upper and lower lips, informing the officer that Steele also hit her, but that she had managed to block some of the strikes.
Steele has two prior judgments for conviction for Domestic Assault in Standing Rock Sioux Tribal Court for offenses that would have been, if subject to federal jurisdiction, an assault against a spouse or intimate partner.
This case was investigated by the BIA, Standing Rock Law Enforcement Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy R. Morley prosecuted the case.
Steele 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
