Kyle White Bull, Domestic Assault by Habitual Offender, SD

A McLaughlin, South Dakota, man is facing federal charges after being indicted for a violent domestic assault, marking the latest in a string of offenses that paint a brutal pattern. Kyle White Bull, age 29, was charged with Domestic Assault by an Habitual Offender, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced, following a federal grand jury indictment handed down on January 19, 2017.

White Bull appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge William D. Gerdes on January 27, 2017, where he formally pled not guilty to the charge. Despite his plea, the indictment lays bare a disturbing history: at the time of the alleged assault on December 21, 2016, White Bull already had at least two prior convictions for assaults against a spouse or intimate partner—triggering the federal habitual offender statute.

The maximum penalty if convicted is up to 5 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine. Additional consequences include up to 3 years of supervised release, a mandatory $100 payment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund, and possible restitution for the victim. Each count carries the full weight of federal sentencing guidelines.

The assault occurred on tribal lands, placing it under federal jurisdiction due to the Major Crimes Act, which grants federal authority over certain violent crimes in Indian Country. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is leading the investigation, underscoring the seriousness with which federal authorities are treating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy R. Morley is prosecuting the case, which remains ongoing. White Bull was remanded into the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service following his arraignment and remains behind bars pending trial. No trial date has been scheduled.

The charges are presumed innocent until proven in a court of law. Still, the indictment signals a hard line against repeat domestic abusers in federal jurisdictions, particularly in regions like South Dakota, where enforcement of domestic violence laws on reservations has long been a flashpoint. The case continues to unfold under the watch of the Department of Justice.