Porcupine Man Gets Time for Reservation Assault

RAPID CITY, SD – A man from Porcupine, South Dakota, is headed to federal prison after pleading guilty to a brutal assault on the Pine Ridge Reservation. Elijah Keith Battese, 25, struck a juvenile male with a vacuum handle last September, leaving the victim with a significant ear laceration.

United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced the sentencing of Battese on August 18, 2025. Battese received one year and one day in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. He’s also been ordered to cough up $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund – a paltry sum for the damage he inflicted.

The incident occurred on September 27, 2024. Court records show Battese’s attack left the victim with a 1.4-inch laceration near his right ear, requiring eleven stitches administered by emergency medical personnel. The attack wasn’t random; Battese was initially indicted by a federal grand jury in January 2025 on two counts of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, later pleading guilty to one on May 2, 2025.

This wasn’t a simple case of local law enforcement handling a bar fight. The U.S. Attorney’s Office took the lead due to the Major Crimes Act. This federal statute forces prosecution in federal court for specific violent crimes committed within Indian Country – in this case, the Pine Ridge Reservation. It’s a clear signal that attacks on tribal lands will draw federal scrutiny.

The Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations Division conducted the initial investigation, laying the groundwork for federal prosecution. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Schroeder skillfully handled the case, securing the conviction and subsequent sentencing. The details suggest a deliberate act of violence, and the court appears to have responded accordingly.

Following the sentencing, Battese was immediately taken into the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service, ending his freedom and beginning his time behind bars. While a year and a day might seem lenient to some, it’s a federal conviction that will follow Battese long after his release. This case serves as a reminder that violence on tribal lands won’t be tolerated, and perpetrators will face federal justice.

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