Willard Henry, Jr., Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer, South Dakota 2021

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Willard Henry, Jr. Sentenced for Assaulting Federal Officer

ST. FRANCIS, S.D. – In a shocking turn of events, 41-year-old Willard Henry, Jr. has been sentenced for his role in assaulting a federal officer in Todd County, South Dakota.

According to court documents, on February 3, 2021, Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services officers responded to multiple calls of a pickup truck being driven recklessly near St. Francis. Officers located the vehicle in a field and made contact with Henry, the driver and sole occupant. Henry refused to exit the vehicle and placed his hand on a rifle that was in the vehicle.

Officers subsequently removed the rifle, a Winchester 30-30 caliber long rifle, from the vehicle and placed Henry under arrest. Multiple rounds of ammunition were also located in the vehicle. Henry will forfeit ownership of the rifle and ammunition to the United States.

As part of his sentence, Henry was ordered to serve two months in federal prison, followed by six months of home confinement, two years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.

The conviction stemmed from an indictment by a federal grand jury on March 9, 2021. Henry pled guilty on September 23, 2021.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the federal government’s violent crime reduction efforts. The Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated the case, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuting the case.

Henry was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

Defendant’s Information:
Defendant: Willard Henry, Jr.
Age: 41
City and State: St. Francis, South Dakota
Exact Date: February 3, 2021 (incident date)
Exact Date: March 9, 2021 (indicted)
Exact Date: September 23, 2021 (plea)
Exact Date: December 13, 2021 (sentencing)
Sentence: Two months in federal prison, six months of home confinement, two years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.