Essence Belt, Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, South Dakota 2020

Woman from Oglala, SD, Sentenced for Assault

South Dakota - In a shocking case of reckless driving, Essence Belt, a 37-year-old woman from Oglala, South Dakota, was recently sentenced for her role in a December 2018 crash that left a passenger a quadriplegic.

According to court records, Belt was driving at an excessive speed of 85 miles per hour in a residential area with a posted speed limit of 25 miles per hour when she lost control of her vehicle and crashed on December 12, 2018. The passenger in the front seat was ejected approximately 100 feet from the vehicle and is now a quadriplegic, while the back seat passenger sustained a hip injury. Belt also sustained serious injuries requiring hospitalization.

On February 2019, Belt was indicted by a federal grand jury for Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Poppen prosecuted the case.

On June 1, 2020, U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Viken sentenced Belt to 5 years of probation, ordered her to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund and $4,000 in restitution.

The severe consequences of Belt's actions serve as a stark reminder of the devastating effects of reckless driving. The FBI and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety are to be commended for their efforts in bringing this case to justice.

As the Grimy Times continues to shine a light on crimes that shake our community, we urge drivers to exercise caution and responsibility behind the wheel.

Belt's conviction is a testament to the importance of holding individuals accountable for their actions. The sentence handed down by Judge Viken is a just reflection of the severity of Belt's crime.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sd/pr/woman-oglala-sd-sentenced-assault