United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that a Wounded Knee, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Assault with a Dangerous Weapon and Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury.
Virgil Left Hand, Sr., age 50, was indicted on Oct. 24, 2017. Left Hand appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta Wollmann on Dec. 1, 2017, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is 10 years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release, $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund, and a $5,000 assessment, unless the sentencing court finds the defendant to be indigent. Restitution may also be ordered.
The charges relate to Left Hand using a golf club to assault the male victim at Wounded Knee on Sept. 23, 2017.
The charges are merely accusations and Left Hand is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Poppen is prosecuting the case.
Left Hand was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has been set for February 6, 2018.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
