A shocking verdict has been handed down in a federal jury trial in Rapid City, South Dakota, as Daelan High Wolf, a 37-year-old man from Porcupine, South Dakota, was acquitted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person on May 22, 2024.
High Wolf was indicted by a federal grand jury in February of 2024 for allegedly possessing a handgun in a vehicle he was driving on February 17, 2021. The prosecution argued that High Wolf is prohibited from possessing firearms due to a prior felony conviction.
The investigation into High Wolf was conducted by the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety, with the U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuting the case. Despite the evidence presented, the jury ultimately found High Wolf not guilty of the charge.
The case against High Wolf was built around the events of February 17, 2021, when he was allegedly found to be in possession of a handgun while driving a vehicle. The U.S. Attorney’s Office had argued that High Wolf’s prior felony conviction made him ineligible to possess firearms, and that he had therefore broken the law by having the handgun in his possession.
However, the jury’s verdict suggests that the prosecution was unable to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt. The acquittal of High Wolf will likely be seen as a significant setback for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, which had pursued the case aggressively.
The acquittal of Daelan High Wolf serves as a reminder that the justice system is designed to protect the rights of all individuals, including those accused of crimes. While the prosecution may have been confident in its case, the jury’s verdict is a stark reminder that the burden of proof lies with the state, and that the accused is entitled to the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.
In a statement, United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced the verdict, confirming that Daelan High Wolf had been acquitted of the charge of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The U.S. Attorney’s Office has not commented further on the case, but it is likely that the acquittal will be the subject of significant scrutiny and debate in the coming days and weeks.
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Key Facts
- State: South Dakota
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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