PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a Lower Brule, South Dakota, man convicted of Assault of an Intimate Partner by Strangulation. The sentencing took place on March 13, 2023.
William Thigh a/k/a William Fire Cloud, age 38, was sentenced to 20 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Thigh was indicted for three counts of Assault With a Dangerous Weapon, and two counts of Assault of an Intimate Partner by Strangulation by a federal grand jury in February of 2022. He pleaded guilty on Dec. 12, 2022.
Between the Nov. 28, 2021, and Nov. 30, 2021, at Lower Brule, Thigh assaulted his intimate partner by strangling her. Thigh placed his hands around the victim’s neck and applied pressure.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs - Office of Justice Services, Lower Brule Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy Morley prosecuted the case.
Thigh was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys