Spokane, Washington – United States District Judge Thomas O. Rice has sentenced Steven Joseph Zacherle, 38, to 204 months in prison for Second Degree Murder in Indian Country and Threats in Interstate Commerce. The sentence includes five years of supervised release, and restitution for the funeral expenses of the victim, Dion Boyd, payable to the Colville Confederated Tribes.
Acting United States Attorney Richard R. Barker shared the details of the case, which began on October 18, 2022, when Zacherle became involved in a domestic dispute near a gas station on the Colville Indian Reservation. After his intimate partner, referred to as Victim 1, drove away, Zacherle threatened her via calls and text messages. During this time, Dion Boyd, an elder of the Colville Tribe, left the gas station and was assaulted by Zacherle, who struck him in the head.
Following the assault, Zacherle continued to call Victim 1, referencing his actions and asking if she wanted to see what he had done. Boyd was found unresponsive by Omak Police and first responders, suffering from head injuries that later proved fatal.
Acting U.S. Attorney Barker extended his sympathies to Boyd's family, acknowledging their pain and reaffirming his office’s commitment to prosecuting violent crimes on Tribal land. MMIP AUSA Bree Black Horse noted Boyd's positive impact on his community, describing him as kind and generous.
"This appalling attack was truly senseless,” commented W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Seattle field office, highlighting Zacherle's disregard for human life. Boyd's death has deeply affected his family and is representative of the larger issue of violence against Indigenous people.
This case is part of the Department of Justice's Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Regional Outreach Program, which seeks to collaborate with various partners to resolve MMIP cases and develop solutions for Tribal communities.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI and the Colville Tribal Police Department, and the prosecution was handled by Acting United States Attorney Richard R. Barker and MMIP Assistant United States Attorney Bree R. Black Horse.
