United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that a Parmelee, South Dakota, man convicted of Assaulting, Resisting, Opposing, and Impeding a Federal Officer was sentenced on Aug. 15, 2016, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange.
Joseph R. Morrisette, III, age 46, was sentenced to one year and one day in custody, followed by two years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Morrisette was indicted by a federal grand jury on April 13, 2016. He pled guilty on June 8, 2016.
The conviction stemmed from an incident on March 15, 2016, when an officer with the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services responded to a request for assistance. A woman contacted dispatch in order to have Morrisette removed from the residence, due to his drinking. The officer arrived at the location and made contact with Morrisette. After a field sobriety test was administered by the officer, Morrisette became uncooperative and pulled away from the officer when he attempted to restrain him. An altercation ensued. The officer deployed a burst of pepper spray in Morrisette’s face, and while the officer was attempting to place handcuffs on Morrisette, he struck the officer. The officer deployed a second burst of pepper spray and Morrissette charged at the officer. Morrissette attempted to push the officer out the rear door and down the steps from the top floor of the house. Both the officer and Morrisette ended up outside of the home. Morrisette went back inside the house and locked the door. The officer kicked the door open and Morrisette charged out of the house, swinging a chair at the officer. The officer was able to grab Morrisette’s hands and dropped him to his knees. Morrisette then became compliant with the officer.
This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carrie G. Sanderson prosecuted the case.
Morrisette 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
