Tyler Layne Gillispie, a 32-year-old resident of Dickson, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty on Apr. 21 to one count of assaulting a dating partner by strangling and attempting to strangle. The charge is punishable by up to ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The case concerns an incident that occurred on May 6, 2025, in Carter County within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation Reservation. According to the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, Gillispie assaulted his dating partner during this event.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Chickasaw Nation Lighthorse Police Department investigated the matter. Magistrate Judge Jason A. Robertson accepted Gillispie's plea and ordered a presentence investigation report. Sentencing will be determined by a U.S. District Court Judge after considering federal guidelines and statutory factors. Gillispie remains in custody pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Morgan Muzljakovich and Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States in this case.
The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Oklahoma leads federal criminal investigations and prosecutions in its region while also managing civil actions for the government; it collects federal debts and supports trust responsibilities to Tribal Nations across 26 counties in eastern Oklahoma as described on its official website. The office maintains operational facilities in Muskogee according to its official website.
It is also noted that this district represents the only federal judicial district located entirely within Indian country according to its official website, advancing community wellness through its work with sovereign Tribal Nations.
