Tokio Driver Gets 14 Years for Fatal DUI, Child Endangerment

FARGO, ND – Tierra Lynn Scott, 31, of Tokio, North Dakota, will spend the next fourteen years of her life behind bars after being sentenced to 168 months in federal prison for the death of a man she struck and ran over with a vehicle while intoxicated and with three minor children present. Chief Judge Peter D. Welte of the United States District Court for the District of North Dakota delivered the sentence today, the maximum allowed by law.

The tragedy unfolded on August 17, 2024, in Fort Totten, ND, on the Spirit Lake Reservation. Law enforcement responded to reports of a pedestrian struck by a vehicle. The victim, an adult male, was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators quickly determined Tierra Scott was behind the wheel, operating the vehicle without a valid driver’s license and demonstrably impaired by alcohol. Adding to the gravity of the situation, Scott was also found to be in possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia. Witnesses reported Scott was driving recklessly, backing up and exhibiting a blatant disregard for the safety of others.

The situation was made all the more horrifying by the presence of Scott’s three young children in the vehicle. They were subjected to her reckless driving and exposed to the dangerous situation, adding three counts of Child Neglect to the charges. Judge Welte sentenced Scott to 24 months consecutive on each of those counts, to run after the 96 months for Involuntary Manslaughter. In addition to the prison term, Scott will serve three years of supervised release and is ordered to pay restitution for the victim’s funeral expenses.

“In August 2024, a man lost his life due to the negligence of Tierra Scott,” stated FBI Minneapolis Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. “She also placed three minor children at risk, driving with them while under the influence of alcohol and in possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia. The FBI will work together with our law enforcement partners to ensure our community is safe for all, especially for children.” The investigation was a collaborative effort between the FBI and the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Acting United States Attorney Jennifer Puhl minced no words in her assessment of the case. “This was an entirely preventable death which was tragically witnessed by others, including children who were in and outside the defendant’s vehicle, all who have no doubt been traumatized,” she said. “Sadly, in recent years law enforcement has responded to increased incidents of alcohol-impaired driving deaths on the Spirit Lake Reservation. I hope this sentence serves as a reminder of the severe legal consequences for individuals who choose to drive under the influence and will deter that behavior.”

Assistant United States Attorney Lori H. Conroy prosecuted the case. The Grimy Times will continue to follow developments in federal crime across the nation, exposing the dark underbelly of American life and holding perpetrators accountable. This case serves as a stark warning: impaired driving isn’t just reckless; it’s lethal, and the consequences will be severe.