It was a verdict that left the Pine Ridge community in South Dakota reeling. Zachariah Michael Poor Bear, 26, faced a federal judge’s stern hand for his heinous crime of First Degree Murder against a 19-month-old baby. On August 21, 2020, U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Viken imposed the ultimate punishment—life in federal prison—for Poor Bear.
The judge also ordered Poor Bear to pay $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund for each of the two charges he was convicted of: First Degree Murder and Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury. The sentence for the assault charge was 10 years, concurrent with the life sentence for murder, and an additional $100 special assessment was imposed.
Poor Bear’s conviction followed a harrowing trial where evidence showed that the defendant inflicted blunt force trauma to the head and abdomen of the infant in May 2015. The murder is one that has left its mark on Pine Ridge, with U.S. Attorney Ron Parsons commenting, “The murder of a child is incomprehensible.” Parsons mourned the loss of the little girl and expressed hope that the life sentence would bring some measure of solace to her family.
Bob Perry, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Minneapolis Division, echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the gravity of the crime and the justice served. “This crime was gut-wrenching, and there is no question the sentencing is just,” said Perry. He also stated that the FBI remains committed to protecting tribal communities and ensuring justice for violent offenders.
The investigation into Poor Bear’s crimes was a collaborative effort between the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Justice Services, and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah B. Collins and Eric Kelderman led the prosecution in this case.
Poor Bear was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service following the sentencing.
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- Pine Ridge Dad Gets Decades for Child Abuse · South Dakota
Key Facts
- State: South Dakota
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime|Public Corruption|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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