Mission Man Faces Lengthy Sentence for Officer Assault

United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that Patrick Medearis, a 33-year-old resident of Mission, South Dakota, has been sentenced to 22 months in prison for assaulting a federal officer and committing simple assault.

The sentence was handed down on April 10, 2017, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange. Medearis, who pled guilty on January 24, 2017, after being indicted by a federal grand jury on January 21, 2016, will also serve 3 years of supervised release and pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

The convictions stem from two separate incidents. In October 2015, Medearis was involved in an altercation with his girlfriend at the Gus Stop convenience store, leading to charges after he grabbed her shirt and chased her. The second incident occurred on November 28, 2015, when a Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services (RSTLES) officer found him outside a home in White Horse, revving his engine. During a vehicle stop, Medearis brandished a knife at the officer before being subdued by law enforcement.

This case was investigated by the RSTLES and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson. Medearis was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service following his arrest.

Medearis’ sentence sends a clear message about the consequences of assaulting law enforcement officers, a crime that carries significant penalties under federal law.

RELATED: Manhattan ‘Slug’ Indicted in Deadly Fentanyl Overdose

RELATED: Fake Percocet Pipeline: Lawrence Man Pleads Guilty