Charles Hollow Horn Sentenced in Dupree Beating

A brutal beating in Dupree, South Dakota left a man’s body broken and his face unrecognizable. Charles Hollow Horn, 21, was sentenced on February 13, 2017 by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange to 24 months in federal prison for Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury and Aiding and Abetting. The attack, fueled by alcohol and rage, left the victim with fractured bones, a swollen brain, and blood smeared across a shattered wall.

Hollow Horn, of Dupree, entered a guilty plea on November 22, 2016, after being indicted by a federal grand jury on April 13, 2016. The charges stem from an incident on December 8, 2015, when Hollow Horn and his girlfriend were staying at a friend’s home while the owner was away. The victim arrived at the residence looking for the homeowner and was invited inside after producing alcohol. The group drank together through the afternoon before making a run to buy more.

On that run, they encountered Bradley Spekker, another friend of Hollow Horn’s. Spekker joined them back at the residence. The drinking continued. But the mood turned violent. Hollow Horn and Spekker turned on the victim without warning. Fists, boots, elbows, and knees rained down. Hollow Horn kicked the man repeatedly while wearing heavy footwear. The assault was relentless, ending only when the victim collapsed, unconscious.

Emergency responders found a crime scene frozen in horror. The victim’s head was massively swollen. His nose was deformed from fractures. A deep laceration split the top of his scalp. Another gash marked his chin. Medical exams later revealed diffuse cerebral swelling — a life-threatening condition. Blood spatter coated a nearby wall, torn open by the force of a body slamming into it. The damage was not just physical — it was savage, deliberate, and nearly fatal.

The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services led the investigation, navigating jurisdictional complexities on tribal land. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Miller prosecuted the case in federal court, where Hollow Horn faced the full weight of the law. In addition to his 24-month sentence, Hollow Horn will serve 2 years of supervised release and pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution has been postponed for 60 days pending further review.

Hollow Horn was taken immediately into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service following sentencing. The case stands as a grim reminder of how quickly drinking, ego, and violence can spiral into irreversible harm. In the shadows of rural South Dakota, justice moved — not swiftly, but surely.