United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that an Eagle Butte, South Dakota, man convicted of Assault by Striking, Beating, and Wounding was sentenced on December 8, 2014, by U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno.
Diego Ramon Lara, age 22, was sentenced to 1 year in custody, 1 year of supervised release, and a $25 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Lara was indicted for Assault with a Dangerous Weapon on Aug. 19, 2014. He pled guilty to Assault by Striking, Beating, and Wounding on Nov. 13, 2014.
The conviction arose from an incident on May 24, 2014, when Lara got into a verbal argument with attendees at a graduation party in Cherry Creek. Lara left the party, but returned to the area later that evening in his pickup. He stopped at an intersection in front of the party attendees, and after exchanging words and gestures with the victim, he put his pickup in gear, hit the accelerator and struck the victim, injuring his leg and ankle.
This case was investigated by the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mikal Hanson prosecuted the case.
Lara was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to begin serving his sentence.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys