ROSEBUD, SD – Heather DuBray, 46, of Mission, South Dakota, learned her fate this week after pleading guilty to assaulting federal officers while incarcerated at the Rosebud Adult Correctional Facility. U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange sentenced DuBray on May 22, 2017, bringing an end to a case that exposed the volatile conditions within the prison walls.
The incident, which triggered the federal charges, unfolded on November 7, 2016. According to court documents, DuBray, already in custody, became combative while housed in an observation cell. She began hurling objects, prompting corrections officers to intervene. As they moved to restrain her – placing her in a restraint chair – DuBray lashed out, striking two officers and spitting on another. The brazen attack quickly escalated, leading to her indictment by a federal grand jury on December 14, 2016.
United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced the sentencing, detailing the terms of DuBray’s punishment. She received credit for time already served since the date of the offense, up to June 2, 2017. Following her release from that initial period, DuBray will be subject to four months of home confinement, followed by a two-year period of supervised release. She was also ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund – a paltry sum for a violent act against those sworn to uphold the law.
The Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services spearheaded the investigation, gathering evidence and building the case against DuBray. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson skillfully prosecuted the case, presenting the facts before Judge Lange and securing the conviction. The quick and decisive action of both agencies highlights a rare instance of cooperation in a region often plagued by jurisdictional complexities.
Sources within the Rosebud Adult Correctional Facility, speaking on condition of anonymity, report a chronic shortage of staffing and resources, contributing to a tense and often dangerous environment for both inmates and officers. While this case resulted in a conviction, many fear it’s merely a symptom of a larger, systemic problem within the South Dakota correctional system. The Grimy Times will continue to investigate conditions within the facility.
Immediately following the sentencing, DuBray was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service, her future uncertain. The case serves as a stark reminder of the risks faced by corrections officers every day and the consequences awaiting those who choose to assault them. The full details of the incident and sentencing are now part of the public record, a testament to the pursuit of justice, however imperfect, in the heart of South Dakota.
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Key Facts
- State: South Dakota
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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