A federal grand jury has indicted 48-year-old John Matthew Pilcher of Agency Village, South Dakota, on charges of assault with intent to commit murder, assault with a dangerous weapon, and assault resulting in serious bodily injury. The charges stem from a violent attack that occurred on or about November 10, 2018, when Pilcher allegedly attacked a victim with a knife or similar sharp-edged object.
According to the indictment returned on March 5, 2019, Pilcher used the weapon with the clear intent to kill. The assault left the victim with serious bodily injuries—details of which remain sealed but are described as life-threatening in court documents. The attack triggered an immediate investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which led to federal charges in one of the most severe violent crime cases in the region this year.
Pilcher appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge William Gerdes on May 13, 2019, where he entered a plea of not guilty to all counts. Despite his plea, prosecutors are building a damning case, citing physical evidence and witness testimony collected during the FBI’s probe. If convicted, Pilcher could face up to 20 years in prison on the most serious count, along with a $250,000 fine.
The maximum penalties for each charge include 20 years and 10 years of imprisonment respectively, a mandatory minimum of five years of supervised release, a $100 special assessment to the victim/witness fund, and possible restitution. The sentences could run consecutively, exposing Pilcher to decades behind bars if found guilty on all counts.
The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy R. Jehangiri, who emphasized the brutality of the assault. “This was not a simple altercation—it was a targeted, vicious attack with deadly intent,” said a DOJ spokesperson. “Federal jurisdiction applies due to the severity and circumstances of the crime.”
John Matthew Pilcher has been remanded into the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A jury trial is scheduled for June 25, 2019. The charges are presumed non-proven under federal law, and Pilcher remains innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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Key Facts
- State: South Dakota
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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