Alison J. Ramsdell U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota
A McLaughlin, South Dakota man has been sentenced to federal prison for assault with a dangerous weapon. U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann delivered the sentence on May 19, 2025.
Norman Ray Red Legs, aged 38, received a sentence of four years and five months in federal prison. Following his imprisonment, he will undergo three years of supervised release and is required to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Red Legs was indicted by a federal grand jury in May 2024 and entered a guilty plea on September 30, 2024.
The incident occurred during the early morning hours of March 11, 2024. A woman, aged 46 at the time, was awakened by Red Legs punching her face. When she asked him to stop, he struck her knees multiple times with a pot. He ceased only after being told to stop by his girlfriend. The victim suffered significant bruising on her face, right arm, and legs and required the use of a wheelchair for several weeks following the attack. The assault took place at an acquaintance's home within the Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation in McLaughlin.
The case fell under federal jurisdiction due to the Major Crimes Act, which requires certain violent crimes occurring in Indian country to be prosecuted federally rather than at the state level.
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs – Office of Justice Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem handled prosecution duties.
Following sentencing, Red Legs was placed into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service.
