Heather DuBray Charged in Attack on Tribal Officers

A Mission, South Dakota, woman is facing federal charges after allegedly launching a violent attack on two tribal corrections officers carrying out their duties. Heather DuBray, 45, was indicted on December 13, 2016, on one count of Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer, a charge that carries a maximum sentence of up to 8 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

According to the indictment, the incident occurred on or about November 7, 2016, when DuBray allegedly forcibly assaulted, resisted, opposed, impeded, intimidated, and interfered with two corrections officers from the Rosebud Sioux Tribe. At the time, the officers were performing official duties, which qualifies the offense under federal jurisdiction. The attack triggered a criminal investigation led by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services.

DuBray appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on January 6, 2017, where she entered a plea of not guilty. Despite her plea, prosecutors are moving forward with the case, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson handling the prosecution. If convicted, DuBray also faces up to 3 years of supervised release, a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund, and potential restitution.

The charge is presumed an accusation under federal law, and DuBray is entitled to the presumption of innocence until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. No additional details about the nature of the confrontation or injuries sustained by the officers have been released by authorities.

Following her court appearance, DuBray was remanded into the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has not yet been scheduled, and she remains in federal detention as the case progresses through the U.S. District Court for the District of South Dakota.

This case highlights the federal government’s continued collaboration with tribal law enforcement in prosecuting crimes committed on sovereign Native American lands. The Rosebud Sioux Tribe, like many tribal nations, operates under a complex jurisdictional framework where federal prosecutors often step in when federal officers or tribal officers acting under federal authority are targeted.