MINNEAPOLIS – United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that an Eagle Butte, South Dakota man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for assault with a dangerous weapon, assault resulting in serious bodily injury and failure to register as a sex offender.
Chad Two Hearts, age 19, was indicted by a federal grand jury on May 20, 2013. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on May 20, 2013, and pled not guilty to the indictments.
The maximum penalty upon conviction of assault with a dangerous weapon, assault resulting in serious bodily injury is 10 years in custody, a $250,000, or both; three years of supervised release; and a $100 special assessment on each count. Restitution may also be ordered.
The maximum penalty upon conviction of failure to register as a sex offender is five years in custody, a $250,000 fine, or both; at least five years of supervised release; and a $100 special assessment. Restitution may also be ordered.
The assault charges relate to an alleged incident in which Two Hearts is accused of assaulting a Swiftbird man in July 2012 with a wooden board or club. The assault resulted in serious injury to the victim. The failure to register as a sex offender charge relates to Two Hearts’ alleged failure to register and update a registration between April 2008 and April 2012, as required under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act after being convicted of a sex offense.
The charges are merely accusations, and Two Hearts is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mikal Hanson is prosecuting the case.
Two Hearts was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. A trial date has not been set.
