United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that Santana Drapeau, age 22, of Fort Thompson, South Dakota, was convicted of two counts of Domestic Assault by a Habitual Offender and one count of Simple Assault as a result of a 2-day federal jury trial in Pierre, South Dakota. The guilty verdict was returned on Oct. 10, 2014.
The Defendant was found not guilty of assault by strangulation.
Each habitual domestic assault conviction carries a maximum penalty of 5 years of imprisonment and/or a $250,000 fine. The simple assault conviction carries a maximum penalty of 1 year imprisonment and/or a $100,000 fine.
The conviction stems from incidents occurring on May 18, 2014, in which Drapeau assaulted his spouse and intimate partner at two different locations, by hitting the victim in the face at a bonfire and physically assaulting her at a residence. Drapeau committed these two assaults at a time when he had three final convictions in Crow Creek Sioux Tribal Court for domestic violence against the same victim.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Crow Creek Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges prosecuted the case.
A presentence investigation report was ordered, and a sentencing date was set for Dec. 22, 2014.
Drapeau 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
