Leslie Gayle White Calf, Assault, SD 2016

PINE RIDGE, SD – Leslie Gayle White Calf, 33, of Pine Ridge, South Dakota, will spend the next eighteen months behind bars for a vicious assault on a woman earlier this year. Chief Judge Jeffrey L. Viken of the U.S. District Court handed down the sentence on November 8, 2016, following a guilty plea entered in July.

The attack, which occurred at a private residence in Pine Ridge, involved White Calf repeatedly kicking the victim in the face and head while wearing heavy work boots. Details released by the Department of Justice paint a picture of brutal force, leaving the woman seriously injured. The specifics of the initial altercation remain largely undisclosed.

U.S. Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced the sentencing, stating that White Calf was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release after completing his prison term. A $100 special assessment was levied, directing funds to the Federal Crime Victims Fund – a small restitution in the face of the violence inflicted.

White Calf was initially charged on January 26, 2016, and quickly entered a guilty plea on July 22, 2016, seemingly attempting to mitigate the potential consequences. However, Judge Viken clearly deemed the crime serious enough to warrant significant time in federal custody. The speed of the plea suggests a strong case built by prosecutors.

The investigation into the assault was a joint effort between the Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Justice Services and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah B. Collins successfully prosecuted the case, presenting evidence that led to the conviction and subsequent sentencing. The collaborative nature of the investigation highlights the ongoing effort to address crime within the Pine Ridge Reservation.

Following the sentencing, White Calf was immediately taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service to begin serving his 18-month sentence. This case serves as a stark reminder of the prevalence of violent crime in underserved communities and the commitment of federal agencies to pursue justice, even in remote locations. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this story and report on further developments.