United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Pine Ridge, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for two counts of Assaulting a Federal Officer.
Jerel Running Bear, age 24, was indicted on Sept. 23, 2014. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on Sept. 26, 2014, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction for each count is 8 years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The charge relates to Running Bear assaulting two female corrections officers employed with the Oglala Sioux Tribe Adult Offenders Facility on July 4, 2014, at Pine Ridge.
The charges are merely accusations and Running Bear is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Justice Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Kelderman is prosecuting the case.
Running Bear was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
