United States Attorney Dennis Holmes announced that a Lower Brule, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer.
Ronald Flute, Jr., age 25, was indicted on November 9, 2021. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on March 1, 2022, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to eight years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that on August 14, 2021, in Lower Brule, Flute struck a federal officer.
The charge is merely an accusation and Flute is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs – Office of Justice Services, Lower Brule Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy R. Morley is prosecuting the case.
Flute was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has not been set.