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Richard James Smith, Assault, Minnesota 2017
A brutal assault left a Red Lake Forestry Department employee severely injured with a traumatic brain injury and intracranial hemorrhage, forcing him to spend more than three weeks in the hospital. Richard James Smith, 27, has been held accountable for his actions and was recently sentenced to 82 months in federal prison.
According to court documents, the assault occurred on June 29, 2017, at Smith’s mother’s residence within the exterior boundaries of the Red Lake Indian Reservation. The victim, an employee with the Red Lake Forestry Department, was at the residence on a work-related matter when Smith came up behind him and struck him in the head with an aluminum baseball bat.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Deidre Y. Aanstad successfully prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Red Lake Department of Public Safety, Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI Headwaters Safe Trails Task Force, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Chief Judge John R. Tunheim sentenced Smith to 82 months in prison, an upward departure from the federal sentencing guidelines, due to the extreme physical and psychological injury inflicted on the victim.
Smith pleaded guilty to one count of assault resulting in serious bodily injury and will also serve three years of supervised release following his prison term. The case serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of violent crime and the importance of holding perpetrators accountable for their actions.
The Red Lake Indian Reservation community can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that justice has been served. The victim and their family have finally received the closure they deserve, and Smith will face the consequences of his actions. This case highlights the tireless efforts of law enforcement agencies and prosecutors working together to bring perpetrators to justice.
As a community, we must work together to prevent such violent acts from occurring in the future. We must support our law enforcement agencies and provide them with the resources they need to keep our communities safe. The safety and well-being of our citizens are paramount, and we must do everything in our power to protect them.
The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota, can be reached at (612) 664-5600 for additional information on this case and other related news.
Key Facts
- State: Minnesota
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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