Joseph Marshall Charged in Ranch House Café Break-In

Joseph Marshall, 37, of Eagle Butte, South Dakota, is behind bars and facing federal charges after being indicted for breaking into the Ranch House Café with the intent to commit larceny. The federal grand jury returned the indictment on December 14, 2016, marking the latest in a string of property crimes plaguing the isolated Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe community.

Marshall appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on December 20, 2016, where he formally pled not guilty to the charge of Third Degree Burglary. Despite his plea, federal prosecutors say evidence places him at the scene of the break-in on May 18, 2016, when someone forced entry into the local diner, a known gathering spot for residents and truckers passing through the remote stretch of Highway 212.

If convicted, Marshall faces up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. Additional penalties include 3 years of supervised release, a $100 payment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund, and possible restitution for damages and stolen property. The case underscores the federal government’s ongoing jurisdiction in major crimes on tribal lands.

The indictment alleges Marshall unlawfully entered the Ranch House Café with intent to steal—a key element that elevates the offense to federal burglary. Investigators recovered signs of forced entry and surveillance footage, according to sources familiar with the probe, though official details remain under seal as the case moves toward trial.

The investigation was led by the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services, working in coordination with federal authorities. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Miller is prosecuting the case, signaling a push to hold offenders accountable in a region where law enforcement resources are stretched thin and response times often delayed.

Marshall has been remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. No trial date has been set. The charge is merely an accusation, and Joseph Marshall is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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