Acting United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that a Chamberlain, South Dakota, man convicted of Larceny was sentenced on May 11, 2015, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange.
James Short Bear, age 19, was sentenced to 8 months in custody, $500 in restitution, and a special assessment of $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Short Bear was indicted by a federal grand jury on Feb. 11, 2015. He pled guilty on March 26, 2015.
The conviction stems from an incident which occurred between Feb. 11, 2014, and Feb. 13, 2014, when Short Bear entered the Lower Brule Sioux Tribal administration building and stole a ceremonial pipe known as a Chanupa. The Chanupa had been purchased by the Tribe in 2006 for $5,500. Short Bear was captured on video entering the building and leaving a short time later with the Chanupa. After a few months had passed, Short Bear pawned the pipe for $500, claiming he had made it himself.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Lower Brule Law Enforcement Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges prosecuted the case.
Short Bear 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
