A Waubay man is facing federal charges for staying silent while a woman bled to death after a brutal assault. Justin Grey, 24, was indicted on August 16, 2016, on one count of misprision of a felony, a charge that accuses him of concealing a violent crime he witnessed.
Grey appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge William D. Gerdes on October 13, 2016, and entered a plea of not guilty. The charge stems from events on or about June 10, 2014, when Grey and another individual allegedly watched as a woman was violently assaulted, suffering serious bodily injury. Despite knowing she was gravely hurt, neither called for help.
The victim, whose identity has not been released, died from her injuries. Prosecutors allege Grey not only failed to report the assault but took deliberate steps to hide the crime from authorities. His silence, they argue, obstructed justice and denied the victim timely aid.
If convicted, Justin Grey, of Waubay, South Dakota, faces up to 3 years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine, 5 years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. The court may also impose restitution.
The FBI is leading the investigation into the assault and the subsequent cover-up. Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy R. Morley is handling the prosecution. The indictment emphasizes that Grey is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Grey was released pending trial, which is scheduled for December 20, 2016, in federal court. The case has drawn scrutiny over bystander accountability and the legal consequences of knowing about a felony and doing nothing. This charge, rarely used, signals federal intent to punish silence in the face of violence.
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Key Facts
- State: South Dakota
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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