United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Manderson, South Dakota, man was charged in federal district court with Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, and Discharging, Brandishing, or Possessing a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence.
Elijah West, age 20, was charged on Feb. 20, 2018. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta Wollmann on March 16, 2018, and pleaded not guilty to the charges. The maximum penalty upon conviction is life imprisonment and/or a $250,000 fine, 5 years of supervised release, and a $100 assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The charges relate to West shooting two women near Porcupine in February 2018. The charges are merely an accusation and West is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Justice Services and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben Patterson is prosecuting the case.
West was detained pending trial.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
