Ft. Thompson Man Charged in Vehicle Assault Case

Conrad James Medicine Crow, 44, of Ft. Thompson, South Dakota, is facing federal charges after being indicted for using a vehicle as a weapon in a brutal assault that left a victim with serious bodily injuries. The indictment, handed down October 12, 2016, by a federal grand jury, marks the latest escalation in a case that has rattled the Crow Creek Indian Reservation.

According to the indictment, on August 16, 2016, Medicine Crow intentionally ran over the victim with his motor vehicle in an unlawful attack that resulted in severe physical trauma. The Justice Department is treating the incident as a violent federal crime due to its occurrence on tribal land, where federal jurisdiction often applies in serious assault cases.

Medicine Crow appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on October 18, 2016, where he formally entered a plea of not guilty. Despite the plea, prosecutors are building a strong case, relying on investigative work conducted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Crow Creek Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges is leading the prosecution.

If convicted, Medicine Crow faces up to 10 years in federal prison, a fine of $250,000, three years of supervised release, and a $100 payment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. The court may also impose restitution to cover the victim’s medical and related expenses, though specific amounts have not yet been determined.

Authorities emphasize that the charge is an accusation, and Conrad James Medicine Crow is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Still, the use of a vehicle as a weapon raises the stakes in what federal prosecutors are calling a deliberate and dangerous act of violence.

Medicine Crow was released on bond pending trial, which has not yet been scheduled. The Bureau of Indian Affairs continues to assist in evidence collection as the case moves toward prosecution. The Grimy Times will continue to cover developments as they emerge from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in South Dakota.

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