MUSKOGEE, OK – Buster Leo Garrett, 57, of McAlester, Oklahoma, will spend the next two years behind bars after being sentenced for a brutal assault on his intimate partner. The attack, which left the victim with substantial bodily injuries, took place on Lake Eufaula in June 2021, and finally reached its conclusion in federal court this week.
Garrett pleaded guilty in February 2023 to one count of Assault Resulting in Substantial Bodily Injury to an Intimate Partner in Indian Country. The investigation, a joint effort by the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Lighthorse Police, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), revealed a vicious attack while the pair were boating. Details of the assault remain grim, with investigators confirming the extent of the victim’s injuries.
The incident occurred within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation in McIntosh County, granting federal jurisdiction over the case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma took the lead on prosecution, highlighting the federal commitment to addressing violent crime in Indian Country. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edith Singer successfully secured the conviction and sentencing.
U.S. District Judge Keith Starrett, sitting by appointment from the Southern District of Mississippi, handed down the 24-month, non-parolable sentence. Garrett was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal to begin his journey to a designated U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility. No parole will be granted, meaning Garrett will serve the entirety of his sentence.
This case underscores the continued prevalence of domestic violence, even in seemingly idyllic settings like Lake Eufaula. The coordinated effort between tribal, state, and federal agencies served to bring a violent offender to justice. The Grimy Times will continue to follow federal cases impacting Oklahoma and the surrounding regions.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office, led by Christopher J. Wilson, continues to prioritize cases involving violence against intimate partners. This sentencing serves as a clear message: perpetrators of domestic abuse will be held accountable under federal law, especially within Indian Country. The full press release can be found at www.justice.gov/usao-edok.
Related Federal Cases
- Quincy Jay Adams, Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, Tulsa OK, 2023 · Alaska
- James Johnson, Racist Assault, Oklahoma 2022 · Oklahoma
- Jeremiah Z. Hahn, Armed Assault, Missouri 2022 · Missouri
- Travis Paul Lindsey, Assault in Indian Country, Oklahoma 2014 · Oklahoma
- William Stanley, Assault on a Federal Officer, Oklahoma 2020 · Oklahoma
Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
Violent CrimeViolent CrimeViolent CrimeViolent Crime