Wood Man Charged With Assault Resulting In Serious Bodily Injury And Child Abuse
A 20-year-old man from Wood, South Dakota, has been charged with Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury and Child Abuse, federal authorities announced. Elias LaPointe, 20, was indicted by a federal grand jury on January 15, 2014, for the alleged incident that took place on October 23, 2013.
According to the indictment, LaPointe allegedly assaulted and abused a child under the age of 7, resulting in serious bodily injury. The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 15 years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
LaPointe appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on January 21, 2014, and pled not guilty to the Indictment. The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tim Maher is prosecuting the case.
LaPointe was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has not been set. The charge is merely an accusation and LaPointe is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The alleged victim, a child under the age of 7, suffered serious bodily injury during the incident. The incident occurred on October 23, 2013. LaPointe’s defense team is expected to challenge the evidence presented in court.
The case highlights the severity of child abuse cases in South Dakota. According to the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System, there were 1,424 reported cases of child abuse in South Dakota in 2013, resulting in 15 fatalities.
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Key Facts
- State: South Dakota
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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