PINE RIDGE, SD – Rudolph Twiss, 19, narrowly avoided further incarceration after being sentenced for a brutal assault that left a man wounded in the neck. The incident, occurring September 13, 2015, in Pine Ridge, culminated in a sentencing hearing on October 28, 2016, presided over by Chief Judge Jeffrey L. Viken of the U.S. District Court.
Twiss, also known as Rudy Twiss, pleaded guilty on July 1, 2016, to the charge of Assault by Striking, Beating, or Wounding. The details of the crime paint a grim picture: Twiss deliberately stabbed the male victim in the neck with a knife. The victim required immediate medical attention and sustained a wound that necessitated eight staples to close.
Despite the severity of the attack, United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced Twiss received a sentence of time served – meaning the time he’d already spent in custody would fulfill the court’s requirement. He was additionally sentenced to one year of supervised release and ordered to pay a $25 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. A lenient sentence considering the weapon used and the location of the injury.
The investigation into the stabbing was a joint effort, conducted by agents of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Justice Services, and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety. These agencies worked tirelessly to gather evidence and build a case against Twiss, ultimately leading to his guilty plea.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Poppen skillfully prosecuted the case, presenting the evidence and securing the conviction. While the victim received medical care, the lasting physical and emotional scars remain. The sentencing raises questions about the balance between justice and rehabilitation in cases involving violent crime on tribal lands.
Grimy Times will continue to follow cases impacting tribal communities in South Dakota. The full details of the sentencing indicate a pattern of violence that requires continued scrutiny and a commitment to ensuring the safety of all residents. The case number has not been released at this time.
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Key Facts
- State: South Dakota
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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