A federal judge has decided on the penalty for 25 year old man from McLaughlin, South Dakota, convicted of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury. The sentencing took place last week (Oct. 21, 2024). Ronald Long Feather was sentenced to 34 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Long Feather was indicted by a federal grand jury in November of 2023. He pleaded guilty on July 23, 2024. Court information says on March 9, 2023, shortly before 7pm in McLaughlin– which lies within the Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation– a belligerent and intoxicated man hurled a plastic snow shovel at Long Feather’s front door, damaging the screen. Long Feather, heavily intoxicated himself, stepped outside and confronted him on the stoop. During the ensuing scuffle, Long Feather stabbed the man in the neck. The man fled on foot to his uncle’s home, who turned him away, anticipating the blood would scare the children in his home. No one called 911. The victim wandered the snow-covered streets of McLaughlin until Good Samaritans rendered aid and called for an ambulance. The man’s heart stopped 20 minutes before reaching the Mobridge Hospital. Resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful. This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State court. This case was investigated by the FBI and the Bureau of Indian Affairs – Office of Justice Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem prosecuted the case. Long Feather was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.