Rapid City, South Dakota – A federal jury has delivered a guilty verdict in the case of Reno Rondeau, a 52-year-old man from Manderson, South Dakota, who stood trial for a series of violent crimes.
The jury found Rondeau guilty of First Degree Felony Murder, Assault With Intent to Commit Arson, Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, and Arson, following a 3-day trial in federal district court in Rapid City, South Dakota.
The verdict was handed down on February 5, 2026, and carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison and/or a $250,000 fine and a $400 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Rondeau was indicted by a federal grand jury in December 2024, and the charges stem from an incident in October 2024, in which he intentionally set fire to his brother’s residence near Manderson, South Dakota.
The fire, which was set with Rondeau’s brother and his friend, Tanya White Butterfly inside, resulted in the tragic loss of life for Ms. White Butterfly, a former correctional officer with the Oglala Sioux Tribe.
Rondeau’s brother, John Rondeau, Sr., suffered burn injuries while trying to save White Butterfly’s life, and the residence was completely destroyed in the fire.
The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, as the Major Crimes Act mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian country be prosecuted in federal court.
The matter was investigated by the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Knox and Assistant U.S. Attorney Paige Petersen prosecuted the case.
A presentence investigation has been ordered, and a sentencing date has been set for May 18, 2026. Rondeau is currently in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
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Key Facts
- State: South Dakota
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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