Man charged with assaulting Badlands ranger

By Journal staff | Thursday, May 03, 2007

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A Lead man pleaded not guilty to assaulting a U.S. Park Ranger in Badlands National Park.

Christopher Thrall, whose age was not listed in a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, is charged in U.S. District Court with assault on a federal officer. Prosecutors say he assaulted U.S. park ranger Vincent Little Whiteman in the park April 17.

If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of eight years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

In other federal court news:

-- Joel Alvin Johnson Jr., 27, Lower Brule, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Charles Kornmann to 152 months in federal custody followed by five years of supervised release. Johnson was convicted of aggravated sexual abuse of a child after a jury trial in December. According to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the charge relates to the sexual assault of a child in Lower Brule between Dec. 1, 2000, and Dec. 31, 2004. He was taken into custody to begin serving his sentence.

-- Shane Lewis, 35, Santa Rosa, Calif., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Andrew Bogue to 41 months in prison and ordered to pay a $1,000 fine for passing counterfeit money in South Dakota. He must also serve three years of supervised release after his prison term. Lewis pleaded guilty to “conspiracy to manufacture and utter counterfeit obligations.” Lewis and Brittni Scardino, 23, used counterfeit money at Murdo, Vivian and Rapid City while traveling through the area in May 2006. Scardino received a 19-month sentence.

-- Bronco Jay Hunts Horse, also known as B.J. Hunts Horse, 24, Eagle Butte, was sentenced by Kornmann to 22 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Hunts Horse pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled firearm. He was also indicted on a charge of assault with a dangerous weapon for assaulting a Ziebach County man with a firearm Oct. 10. Hunts Horse must report to the U.S. Marshal on May 8 to begin serving his sentence.

-- Justin Randall High Elk, 26, Isabel, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Karen Schreier to three months in custody and three years of supervised release and was ordered to pay $5,308 in restitution for damaging a pickup and gooseneck trailer in Dewey County on July 18. High Elk pleaded guilty to larceny in connection with the theft and subsequent damage to the pickup and trailer.

-- Jose Arellano, 38, Rapid City, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. According to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the charge relates to an incident Oct. 27, when Arellano possessed methamphetamine and intended to distribute it. The maximum penalty is 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing was set for July 9.

-- Toby Jay McCloskey Sr., 25, St. Francis, pleaded guilty to assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Federal court documents show McCloskey admitted to assaulting Clifford J. Colligan Jr. on Sept. 9 in Todd County. The maximum penalty is 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. McCloskey was released on bond pending sentencing June 26.

n Donita Dupris, 34, Eagle Butte, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute and being a habitual offender. The possession charge involved distribution of marijuana in Dewey County on June 6. The maximum penalty is 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Dupris was released on bond pending sentencing July 2.

-- Miguel Balderrama-Marquez, 28, Denver, pleaded not guilty to a charge of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance in connection with an alleged conspiracy to distribute cocaine and marijuana near Pine Ridge between 2000 and 2006. Two co-conspirators, Rafael Balderrama-Marquez and Johnny “Cakes” LaDeaux, are also charged. LaDeaux was also indicted on charges of distribution of a controlled substance and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. If convicted, Miguel Balderrama-Marquez could face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment and a $4 million fine. No trial date was set.

-- Ivan Watts, 30, Sioux Falls, pleaded not guilty to a charge of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the death of a Rosebud man. According to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Watts is accused of operating a vehicle “in a grossly negligent manner,” causing the man’s death. The maximum penalty upon conviction is six years in prison and a $250,000 fine. He was released into an inpatient drug and alcohol program pending trial.

-- Daryl Pipe On Head, no age listed, Porcupine, pleaded not guilty to a charge of arson in connection with a Jan. 15 fire that destroyed a trailer house near Porcupine. The maximum penalty upon conviction is life in prison and a $250,000 fine. No trial date was set.