A Belcourt woman, Rhawnie Marcellais, was sentenced to 50 months in federal prison for child abuse, assault with a dangerous weapon, and malicious mischief. The sentence was handed down by District Court Judge Peter Welte on November 13, 2024. In addition to the prison term, Marcellais will face three years of supervised release and must pay $300 in special assessment fees and $1,302 in restitution.
Court documents reveal that the charges stem from an incident on January 1, 2021. A minor female reported to law enforcement in Belcourt, ND that she had been assaulted by her mother. The minor described being struck by an empty beer bottle thrown by Marcellais and having a pillow pushed into her face. Injuries consistent with these claims were noted at a local emergency room. A video of the incident surfaced in September 2022 and was provided to Turtle Mountain Child Welfare before reaching the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Further investigation uncovered another assault by Marcellais against an adult female in January 2023. This victim suffered fractured ribs and a concussion after being kicked while on the ground.
Marcellais was convicted on June 28, 2024, following a four-day jury trial. She sought contact with the minor victim post-conviction but was denied due to concerns over witness tampering.
United States Attorney Mac Schneider emphasized the importance of public safety: "The United States Attorney’s Office is committed to public safety in Indian country, especially when it comes to protecting kids," Schneider stated. "As this sentence shows, child abuse is a serious crime."
The case was investigated by both the FBI and the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), with prosecution led by Assistant United States Attorneys Dawn M. Deitz and SheraLynn Ternes.