United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a St. Francis, South Dakota man has been sentenced for assault with a dangerous weapon. U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte sentenced Martin Metcalf, 52, to five years in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release. Metcalf is also required to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Metcalf was indicted by a federal grand jury in December 2023 and pleaded guilty on September 19, 2024. The conviction relates to an incident on November 24, 2023, in Todd County, South Dakota, within the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation. Metcalf entered his girlfriend’s home and threatened her and her children with an AR-15-style rifle, striking his girlfriend on the arm with it. A child called 911 during the incident, leading to law enforcement's response. Metcalf will forfeit ownership of the firearm to the United States.
The case was prosecuted under the Major Crimes Act which requires certain violent crimes in Indian Country be tried in federal court rather than state court.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement and communities. The strategy focuses on building trust within communities, supporting organizations that prevent violence, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring outcomes.
The investigation was conducted by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Senior Litigation Counsel Kirk Albertson led the prosecution.
Metcalf was immediately taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service following sentencing.