Man guilty of assault by car

By Journal staff | Friday, May 30, 2008

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A federal jury has convicted a Lower Brule man of intentionally ramming into a man's car door, crushing his leg, as the man was trying to get inside a police station.

Kyle Aaron Thompson, 22, was convicted of assault with a dangerous weapon. According to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, Thompson assaulted the victim by ramming into his vehicle from behind while both cars were driving on a public road. Later, when the victim tried to get out of his car to go into the Lower Brule police station, Thompson rammed into the car's driver's side door, crushing the man's leg.

The incident happened Feb. 28 in Lyman County.

The maximum penalty is 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Thompson is in custody pending sentencing Aug. 18.

In other federal court news:

* Stephen Makes Him First, 41, Little Eagle, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Charles Kornmann to 46 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Makes Him First pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon, admitting that he assaulted a man with a knife on Sept. 8 in Corson County.

* Steve Anthony Burnette, 42, Mission, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Karen Schreier to five years of probation and three years of home confinement. He also must register as a sex offender, have no contact with children younger than 18 and successfully complete sex-offender treatment. Burnette was originally indicted on five counts of aggravated sexual abuse and abusive sexual contact and later pleaded guilty to abusive sexual contact. He admitted to having sexual contact in 1998 with a 6-year-old girl in Todd County.

* Ronnie High Bear, 21, Porcupine, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Andrew Bogue to time served and five years of supervised release for first-degree burglary. High Bear pleaded guilty to the charge, admitting that he unlawfully entered a home in the Evergreen Community on April 28, 2007, and stole a 42-inch plasma television, a computer, jewelry and other personal items. A few days later, the items were found at a pawn shop, with High Bear listed as the owner.

* Rolland Collins Jr., 26, Eagle Butte, pleaded guilty to being a drug user in possession of a firearm. According to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, Collins admitted to possessing firearms while using drugs. He agreed to forfeit a pistol, more than $4,000 cash, and his interest in a hunting rifle. Federal court documents show that he was initially indicted on an additional charge of distribution of marijuana. The maximum penalty is 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Collins is in custody pending sentencing Sept. 8.

* Humberto "Betto" Gonzalez-Mendrano, 45, Denver, has pleaded not guilty to an indictment charging him with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in South Dakota. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison with a maximum penalty of life in prison and a $4 million fine. Federal court documents show prosecutors believe the conspiracy began in the spring of 2004 or earlier. Gonzalez-Mendrano is in custody pending trial.

* Eric J. King, 24, St. Francis, pleaded not guilty to an indictment charging him with five counts of sexual abuse of a minor and abusive sexual contact. Federal court documents show that two of the counts involve alleged sexual contact with a child younger than 12. Four counts allege sexual contact with a person between ages 12 and 16. Prosecutors say the incidents happened in January 2006 and also in the summer of 2006. The maximum penalty upon conviction for abusive sexual contact (two counts) is 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine; the maximum penalty for sexual abuse of a minor (two counts) is 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine; and the maximum penalty for abusive sexual contact (one count) is two years in prison and a $250,000 fine. King is in custody pending trial.

* Michael Ernie Ramos, 33, Spearfish, pleaded not guilty to an indictment charging him with possessing marijuana, methamphetamine, and a 12-gauge shotgun. The maximum penalty upon conviction is 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. No trial date was set.

Editor's note: The U.S. District Court generally prosecutes felonies committed on reservations, while tribal courts handle misdemeanor crimes. Felonies that happen off the reservation are prosecuted in state/circuit court and are reported separately in the Journal. Some drug and firearms cases are also prosecuted in federal court.