Swift Bear Man Gets 2+ Years for Brutal Assault

PIERRE, SD – A night of heavy drinking in Swift Bear, South Dakota, turned into a brutal beating that landed William Moran, 35, behind federal bars. Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange of the U.S. District Court sentenced Moran to two years and two months in prison on June 24, 2024, for Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury. The sentence also includes three years of supervised release and a $100 assessment for the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

The attack unfolded November 18, 2023, in the Swift Bear Community, near White River, on the Rosebud Indian Reservation. Moran, fueled by alcohol, began assaulting a woman, initially punching her and sending her crashing to the ground. The violence didn’t stop there. He then repeatedly punched and kicked her in the head and face, ignoring the attempts of others to intervene. Witnesses say Moran even knocked a person to the ground while resisting efforts to stop the attack.

The victim sustained horrific injuries, requiring immediate medical attention at a Rapid City hospital. Doctors discovered hemorrhaging in her cranium and she suffered respiratory failure due to a collapsed lung – injuries that could have easily been fatal. The sheer brutality of the assault is a stark reminder of the dangers faced within Indian Country.

Moran was indicted by a federal grand jury in December 2023 and pleaded guilty on March 21, 2024. The case landed in federal court due to the Major Crimes Act, a law that requires prosecution of certain violent crimes occurring within Indian Country by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, rather than state authorities. This ensures federal resources are dedicated to addressing crime in these vulnerable communities.

The Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services spearheaded the investigation, laying the groundwork for the prosecution. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson skillfully handled the case, securing a conviction and a sentence that, while not erasing the trauma inflicted, sends a clear message that such violence will not be tolerated.

Following the sentencing, Moran was immediately taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service to begin serving his sentence. While two years may seem a short time for the damage he inflicted, it’s a consequence he’ll face, and the victim will hopefully find some measure of peace knowing justice, however imperfect, has been served. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the ongoing challenges of crime within Indian Country.

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