Eagle Butte Sisters Sentenced in Brutal Home Assault

In a savage attack fueled by rage and alcohol, Lisa Lone Eagle, 36, and Kendra Belt a/k/a Kendra Counting, 41, both of Eagle Butte, South Dakota, beat a man nearly to death inside his own home, then tried to burn his body when they thought he was dead. On November 7, 2016, U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange handed down justice: 63 months for Lone Eagle and 37 months for Belt, both followed by three years of supervised release.

The assault unfolded on the evening of September 5, 2015, at the victim’s residence, where Lone Eagle had lived for about 18 months. After drinking with the victim, Lone Eagle left and returned with her half-sister, Belt. Tensions flared. Lone Eagle flipped out—ripping shelves from the walls and unleashing a brutal beating, punching the man at least eight times. Belt jumped in, joining the assault as the victim crumpled to the floor.

What followed was pure savagery. Lone Eagle, wearing heavy cowboy boots, stomped and kicked the victim in the head, face, neck, and torso. She grabbed the head of a sledgehammer and bludgeoned him. Belt kicked him while he lay defenseless and tried to strangle him into oblivion. The victim lost consciousness. The women believed he was dead.

They dragged him toward the crawlspace to hide the body but couldn’t fit him inside. Instead, they draped a blanket over him, doused it with kerosene, and attempted to set him on fire. The attempt failed. Minutes later, the victim regained consciousness, staggered to his feet, and collapsed onto a bed. Lone Eagle followed him, striking him five or six more times before he finally managed to escape the house.

Neighboring residents found the victim collapsed outside, barely alive. The investigation was led by the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Miller prosecuted the case. Both Lone Eagle and Belt were indicted on September 15, 2015, on federal charges including Assault With Intent to Commit Murder. Lone Eagle pleaded guilty to Assault With a Dangerous Weapon on August 4, 2016; Belt pleaded guilty to Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury on August 8, 2016.

As part of their sentences, both women were ordered to pay $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution was left open for 30 days. Immediately after sentencing, they were taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service. The case stands as a grim reminder of domestic violence spiraling into attempted murder—and the federal reach that ensures accountability on tribal lands.

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