Joel Thomas Smith, Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, Marq…

Marquette, Michigan – A brutal crime on the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community reservation has culminated in a severe sentence for Joel Thomas Smith. The 24-year-old from Baraga was handed down a 71-month federal prison term by U.S. District Judge R. Allan Edgar for assault resulting in serious bodily injury and sexual abuse of a minor.

Smith’s criminal history, which includes an earlier conviction for assault with a dangerous weapon, has been compounded with another 18 months in federal prison for violating the terms of his supervised release. The U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Miles, Jr. announced the sentence today, also ordering Smith to serve eight years of supervised release post-prison and pay a $200 special assessment.

The incident that led to this severe punishment unfolded on February 11, 2013, at a residence in Baraga. Here, Smith inflicted serious harm on his live-together girlfriend, fracturing one of her ribs. This act of violence marked the first charge against him, leading to a guilty plea and the current sentence.

However, the sexual abuse charge dates back to 2007 when Smith, then 19 years old, engaged in a despicable act with a 13-year-old girl on the Hannahville Indian Community reservation. This incident was only revealed to authorities four years later in May 2011 after the victim disclosed her trauma.

Both the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community Tribal Police and the Hannahville Indian Community Tribal Police, along with the FBI, played pivotal roles in the investigation that led to Smith’s conviction. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul D. Lochner was at the forefront of the prosecution, ensuring justice for the victims.

As this grim chapter in Marquette’s criminal narrative closes, Joel Thomas Smith will spend a significant portion of his life behind bars, serving both the sentence imposed by the court and the consequences of his heinous actions.