DeCoteau to be charged in 2007 trooper assault

Meanwhile, he’s sentenced to almost seven years for separate assault.

By Heidi Bell Gease, Journal staff | Thursday, April 17, 2008

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The man accused of assaulting a South Dakota Highway Patrol officer near Mobridge last year has been sentenced to almost seven years in federal prison for his role in another assault.

Jeremy Grant DeCoteau, 28, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Karen Schreier to 82 months in custody, three years of supervised release and a $1,000 fine for assault with a dangerous weapon and aiding and abetting an assault with a dangerous weapon.

DeCoteau, whose hometown has been listed as both Eagle Butte and Sioux Falls, pleaded guilty, admitting that he took part in an assault on an Eagle Butte man March 17, 2007.

Next week DeCoteau will make his initial appearance on new charges connected with an attack on a highway patrolman March 18, 2007.

Sara Rabern, a spokesman for the South Dakota Attorney General’s Office, said DeCoteau will make his initial appearance April 22 in Campbell County. He was originally charged in 5th Circuit Court with attempted murder, aggravated assault and escape. Those charges are being dropped.

DeCoteau will now be charged with aggravated assault in connection with the attack on Trooper Kevin Kerr near Mobridge. Because DeCoteau is considered a habitual offender, he could face up to life in prison if convicted of assault in circuit court, Rabern said.

In the federal case, DeCoteau, Sydney Garreau and Samuel Mike LeBeau went to an Eagle Butte home and assaulted a man who had given investigators information that led to Garreau’s conviction for brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence in 2000.

The following day, DeCoteau and Garreau were stopped by Trooper Kerr near Mobridge. Prosecutors say DeCoteau assaulted Kerr when he tried to arrest DeCoteau on a parole violation. Kerr suffered minor injuries.

Garreau, who was the subject of a federal manhunt for several weeks last spring after walking away from Community Alternatives of the Black Hills, was sentenced to 16 months in prison for escape and 40 months in prison for the Eagle Butte assault. The sentences will be served after he completes the 84-month sentence he received for the 2000 crime.

LeBeau was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison for misprision of a felony.

Contact Heidi Bell Gease at 394-8419 or heidi.bell@rapidcityjournal.com.