A Mission man accused of assaulting another man with an ax has pleaded not guilty.

Rodney Thin Elk, 43, is charged in U.S. District Court with assault with a dangerous weapon and assault resulting in serious bodily injury.

According to court documents, Thin Elk is accused of using an ax to assault a Rosebud man on April 3 at Todd County.

The maximum penalty upon conviction for each charge is 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Thin Elk was released pending trial.

In other federal court news:

• Sidney Francis Walters, also known as Sidney Francis Ziegler, no age listed, Lower Brule, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Charles Kornmann to 41 months in prison and three years supervised release for assault with a dangerous weapon. Walters pleaded guilty to the charge, which was filed in connection with a May 23, 2008 incident when Walters assaulted a Lower Brule man by kicking him. The man suffered serious injuries.
• Cornelius Last Horse, 37, Kyle, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Richard Battey to three years in prison and 20 years supervised release after he pleaded guilty to abusive sexual contact. According to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, Last Horse admitted committing a sexual act upon a child under 16 years old by putting her in fear for her safety. The incident happened between April 2004 and May 2006. Last Horse was originally indicted on an additional charge of aggravated sexual abuse.
• William Clifford, 19, Pine Ridge, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Karen Schreier to 12 months and one day in prison and three years supervised release after he pleaded guilty to escape. He admitted escaping from the custody of a federal facility last June.
• Louis Goodshield, 19, Rapid City, was sentenced by Judge Schreier to time served and three years supervised release, plus $4,000 restitution. According to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, Goodshield pleaded guilty to possessing a homemade "silencer."
• Tyler Eagle Bull, 23, Pine Ridge, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine. Eight people were indicted in connection with the conspiracy, which went from 2002 to October 2008. Two have already pleaded guilty and been sentenced. Four others are awaiting trial. Eagle Bull faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison with a maximum of life in prison and a $4 million fine. He is in custody pending sentencing Feb. 23.
• Sheila Moss, 26, Pittsburgh, Pa., pleaded not guilty to a charge of possessing an unregistered firearm. Federal court documents show she is accused of possessing a sawed-off shotgun on Oct. 31 in Sturgis. The maximum penalty upon conviction is 10 years in prison. No trial date was set.

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.