Pine Ridge Man Pleads Guilty to Assaulting Federal Officer

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) - U.S. Attorney Brendan Johnson says a Pine Ridge man has been sentenced to three years in prison for assaulting a federal officer.

Johnson says 47-year-old James LaDeaux wielded a knife at Oglala Sioux Tribe officer on Sept. 5, 2011, forcing the officer to subdue LaDeaux with a stun gun.

Because of a contract between the tribe and the federal government, many tribal officers are considered federal officers under the law prohibiting the assault of federal officers.

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