Cherokee Nation Man Sentenced for Violent Assault on Ex-Dating Partner

Robert Joseph Marder, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, has been sentenced to 78 months in federal prison for his brutal assault on a former dating partner in Oklahoma. The 32-year-old’s attack, which occurred while she held her three-month-old daughter, was so severe that it left the victim with injuries requiring hospital treatment.

Marder pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon in Indian Country on July 14, 2021. The incident took place on May 29, 2020, when Marder confronted his ex-girlfriend at her home. After she attempted to flee with their child, Marder followed and forced entry into the apartment by kicking the door in. He then escalated the violence by striking the woman multiple times with a piece of door trim that had a nail protruding from it.

Acting U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson emphasized the impact of domestic violence on children. ‘Make no mistake, children also suffer the immediate and long term effects of violence in the home,’ Johnson stated. ‘My team of federal prosecutors and victim specialists are here to seek justice for victims like this woman and support them through their recovery process.’

The assault was reported by security officers who arrived at the scene after hearing screams. They promptly detained Marder and called the police, who transported the injured woman to the hospital. The investigation was conducted by the FBI and Tulsa Police Department, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin G. Bish and Benjamin D. Hargrove handling the prosecution.

Following his release from prison, Marder will serve three years of supervised release. This sentence serves as a stark reminder of the severity of domestic violence crimes within Indian Country and the commitment to justice for victims in Oklahoma.

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