United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that an Eagle Butte, South Dakota, man convicted of Assault Resulting in Substantial Bodily Injury to an Intimate Partner was sentenced on Feb. 16, 2016, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange.
Andrew High Bear, age 38, was sentenced to 5 months in custody, 2 years of supervised release, and $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
High Bear was indicted for Assault with a Dangerous Weapon and Assault Resulting in Substantial Bodily Injury to an Intimate Partner by a federal grand jury on Aug. 11, 2015. He pled guilty to Assault Resulting in Substantial Bodily Injury to an Intimate Partner on Nov. 30, 2015.
The conviction arose from a May 21, 2015, incident at Eagle Butte, SD, when the victim said something that angered High Bear. High Bear went to strike the victim as she lay on the bed. To shield herself, the victim rolled on her side and put her arms over her head. High Bear hit the victim at least twice on the back of the head so hard that each time she was hit, the victim saw a flash of light. Her head began to bleed. Because she was facing away from High Bear, the victim was unable to see if High Bear had an object or weapon in his hand while he was hitting her. When the victim attempted to flee, High Bear grabbed her arm to stop her, causing bruising on her upper right arm. The victim pulled away and went to a neighbor’s house to call for help. When the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Police responded and entered the apartment, they saw a sharp spoon lying on the ground with what appeared to be blood on it. The victim had a laceration to the back of her head.
This case was investigated by the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Miller prosecuted the case.
High 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
