Evan Bobtail Bear Sentenced

A brutal display of violence at a gathering outside a home in Little Eagle, South Dakota, has led to the sentencing of Evan John Bobtail Bear, age 35, to five years in federal prison for Involuntary Manslaughter.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the incident occurred on May 14, 2024, when Bobtail Bear argued with his brother at the gathering. The argument escalated, and Bobtail Bear punched his brother in the head, causing him to fall and strike his head on a concrete driveway.

The brother, who was left unconscious, succumbed to his injuries on June 8, 2024, in a hospital in Bismarck, North Dakota. Bobtail Bear, realizing the severity of his brother’s condition, pleaded with him to wake up, but his efforts were in vain.

Bobtail Bear was indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2025 and pleaded guilty on February 12, 2025. The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office due to the Major Crimes Act, which mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian country be prosecuted in federal court.

The sentencing, which took place on July 15, 2025, was handed down by U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann. In addition to the five-year prison sentence, Bobtail Bear was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund and will serve three years of supervised release following his incarceration.

The investigation into the incident was conducted by the FBI and the Bureau of Indian Affairs – Office of Justice Services, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem prosecuting the case. Bobtail Bear was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service following the sentencing.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office, led by United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell, has stated that this case highlights the importance of holding individuals accountable for their actions, particularly in cases of violent crime. The sentencing of Evan Bobtail Bear serves as a reminder of the severe consequences that can result from such actions.