Spokane, Washington – Acting United States Attorney Richard R. Barker announced that James Ray Hill Jr., 46, of Wellpinit, Washington, has been sentenced after pleading guilty to one count of assault resulting in serious bodily injury in Indian Country. United States District Judge Thomas O. Rice sentenced Hill to 48 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release.
Court documents and information presented at the sentencing hearing revealed that on December 3, 2023, Hill assaulted his girlfriend while they were sitting in her car on the Spokane Indian Reservation. The victim sustained facial swelling and multiple broken bones around her eye and nose, requiring hospital treatment and surgery.
Barker emphasized the importance of partnership with Tribal nations: "My office’s partnership with Tribal nations and communities is integral to the work we do within the U.S. Attorney’s Office. While the federal government has not always lived up to its treaty and trust obligations, we can and must do better moving forward. Ensuring public safety is a top priority for my office, and I am so grateful for the work we have been able to do over the past several years to rebuild trust with the Tribal nations within the Eastern District of Washington."
The case was investigated by the FBI and Spokane Tribal Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Ellis.
