United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that a Bullhead, South Dakota, man convicted of two counts of Domestic Assault by an Habitual Offender was sentenced on Aug. 1, 2017, by U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann.
Dana Yellow Earrings, age 44, was sentenced to 37 months in custody in each count to be served concurrently, 3 years of supervised release on each count to be served concurrently, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $200.
Yellow Earrings was indicted by a federal grand jury on Feb. 15, 2017. He pled guilty on May 5, 2017.
The conviction stems from an incident on Sept. 11, 2016, when Yellow Earrings went to the home of the victim, and angrily confronted her at her home in Bullhead, South Dakota. Yellow Earrings became more irate and physically assaulted the victim. He then left the residence and attempted to break the windows out of a vehicle outside the residence.
On February 6, 2016, Yellow Earrings was walking across a bridge in Bullhead, South Dakota, and came across the victim walking across the bridge in the opposite direction. He and the victim began to argue and Yellow Earrings struck the victim with a beer can, knocking her to the ground. As the victim was laying on the ground, Yellow Earrings began to kick her in the abdomen. A person who observed the incident managed to distract Yellow Earrings, allowing the victim to flee. He was later apprehended.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Standing Rock Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy R. Morley prosecuted the case.
Yellow Earrings 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
