A brutal act of domestic violence shook a family in Parmelee, South Dakota. On October 4, 2023, William Verlin Fool Bull, Sr., age 45, violently assaulted his girlfriend in their home, a residence within the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation. The incident left his girlfriend with physical harm.
Fool Bull’s assault on his girlfriend was particularly egregious. He punched her in the face multiple times and suffocated her. The assault only ceased when the woman managed to escape and kick him in the knee.
This was not Fool Bull’s first brush with the law regarding domestic abuse. He had two prior convictions for similar crimes. In light of this, the U.S. Attorney’s Office opted to pursue federal charges under the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute that mandates prosecution of certain violent crimes in federal court when they occur in Indian Country.
Fool Bull was indicted by a federal grand jury in January 2024. He subsequently pleaded guilty on November 19, 2024, to the charge of Domestic Assault by an Habitual Offender.
On February 20, 2025, U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte sentenced Fool Bull to five years in federal prison. This term will be followed by three years of supervised release. Additionally, Fool Bull was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Fool Bull was immediately taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service. The investigation into this incident was handled by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Service, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem prosecuting the case.
This case highlights the severity of domestic violence and the importance of holding perpetrators accountable for their actions. The U.S. Attorney’s Office remains committed to prioritizing the safety and well-being of victims of domestic abuse.
Defendant: William Verlin Fool Bull, Sr.
Criminal Charges: Domestic Assault by an Habitual Offender
City and State: Parmelee, South Dakota
Crime Date: October 4, 2023
Sentence: Five years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund
Related Federal Cases
- Kyle White Bull, Domestic Assault by Habitual Offender, South Dakota 2017 · South Dakota
- Kyle White Bull, Domestic Assault by an Habitual Offender, South Dakota 2017 · South Dakota
- Milo Reuben Red Tomahawk, Domestic Assault by an Habitual Offender, South Dakota 2017 · South Dakota
- Alexander Oka, Domestic Assault by an Habitual Offender and Tampering with a Victim, South Dakota 2018 · South Dakota
- Dustin Marrowbone, Domestic Assault by a Habitual Offender, South Dakota 2020 · South Dakota
Key Facts
- State: South Dakota
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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