Richard One Feather Sentenced for Assaulting Federal Officer

A 47-year-old Mission, South Dakota man launched a violent resistance against law enforcement during a traffic stop that escalated into a federal crime, leading to an 8-month prison sentence. Richard One Feather was sentenced on January 30, 2017, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange for assaulting, opposing, resisting, and impeding a federal officer—a conviction rooted in chaos on tribal land.

One Feather’s reckoning began on March 29, 2016, when a Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services Officer spotted his vehicle speeding and swerving erratically near the Soldier Creek Community. The officer initiated a pursuit that ended at a private residence, where One Feather stumbled from the car visibly drunk and refused every lawful command. What followed was a physical confrontation that crossed the line into federal jurisdiction.

As officers attempted to take him into custody, One Feather actively resisted—kicking the officer hard in the leg, forcing a defensive response. The officer deployed pepper spray, subdued One Feather on the ground, and eventually secured him in handcuffs. The assault, though brief, triggered a federal investigation due to the officer’s status under federal authority via the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Indicted by a federal grand jury on April 13, 2016, One Feather pleaded guilty to the charge on November 8, 2016, admitting his role in the violent confrontation. He was sentenced to 8 months in federal custody, followed by 2 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

The case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services, highlighting the complex interplay between tribal and federal jurisdiction in Indian Country. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk W. Albertson, prosecuted the case with an emphasis on protecting officers enforcing federal law in high-risk environments.

Following sentencing, Richard One Feather was immediately taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service to begin serving his term. The outcome stands as a stark reminder: assaulting a federal officer carries swift and severe consequences, especially on tribal lands where federal law enforcement plays a critical role in public safety.

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