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Inmate receives additional decade-long sentence following fatal assault conviction

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Saturday, February 22, 2025

Inmate receives additional decade-long sentence following fatal assault conviction

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U.S. Attorney Jonathan D. Ross | U.S. Department of Justice

Raymond Tetzlaff, an inmate at the Federal Bureau of Prisons in Forrest City, Arkansas, has been sentenced to an additional 10 years in federal prison. This sentence follows his conviction for assault causing serious bodily injury, which resulted in the victim's death. The announcement was made by Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas.

Tetzlaff, aged 41 and from Great Falls, Montana, was found guilty by a federal jury on June 12, 2024. He is currently serving a 216-month sentence for drug-related crimes from a case in Montana dating back to 2017. His new 120-month sentence will commence once his current sentence concludes in 2032. In addition to the prison term, Judge James M. Moody Jr., who delivered the verdict, imposed five years of supervised release on Tetzlaff.

“It is my sincere hope that today’s sentence will bring a level of comfort and peace to the victim’s family,” stated Jonathan D. Ross. He added that prisoners should be safe while serving their terms and warned that harm to fellow inmates would lead to accountability.

Tetzlaff was initially indicted on August 1, 2023, with charges of manslaughter and assault causing serious bodily injury. The jury convicted him of assault but did not reach a decision on the manslaughter charge.

The incident occurred on October 29, 2022, when Tetzlaff punched another inmate over concerns regarding a missing contraband cell phone. The victim sustained a fractured skull after being knocked unconscious and falling to the floor. Three days later, he died from his injuries.

Witnesses testified that Tetzlaff attacked when the victim was not looking and had turned away. After being struck, the victim fell unconscious and later suffered further injury due to a seizure-induced fall from his bunk bed.

Judge Moody cited Tetzlaff’s lack of remorse and history of violent behavior as factors influencing the sentence decision.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with support from the BOP and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Bart Dickinson and Chris Givens.

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