United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell dropped a heavy blow today, announcing the sentencing of Evan John Bobtail Bear to five years in federal prison for involuntary manslaughter. The tragedy unfolded within the hallowed grounds of the Standing Rock Reservation when Bear’s punch proved fatal.
Bear, 35, from Little Eagle, South Dakota, pleaded guilty on February 12, 2025, after he was indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2024. The crime occurred on May 14, 2024, during an argument outside a Little Eagle residence within the reservation’s borders.
The tale of tragedy began when Bear, in a fit of fury, punched his brother. The blow sent his brother unconscious to the concrete driveway below. Despite Bear’s desperate plea for his brother to wake up, he never did. His brother succumbed to injuries on June 8, 2024, in Bismarck, North Dakota.
This case, a harrowing reminder of the reach of federal jurisdiction over Indian country, was prosecuted under the Major Crimes Act, which requires certain violent crimes within Native American territories to be handled in federal court. The FBI and the Bureau of Indian Affairs – Office of Justice Services led the investigation, ensuring justice for the victim.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem handled the prosecution with vigor, leading to Bear’s remand into the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. The sentence also includes three years of supervised release and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Bear will pay for his actions with five years in federal prison, but the scars left on the lives of those he impacted may never fully heal.
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Key Facts
- State: South Dakota
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime|Public Corruption|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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