On December 19, 2024, Bojai Dominick Grant-Schmidt was sentenced to fourteen months in federal prison by United States District Judge Thomas O. Rice for assaulting his girlfriend on the Spokane Reservation. The sentence also includes three years of federally supervised release.
The incident occurred on May 10, 2024, in Ford, Washington. Court documents revealed that Grant-Schmidt assaulted his girlfriend by punching her in the face and placing her in a headlock, nearly causing her to lose consciousness. He also bit her on the scalp and finger and dragged her by her hair.
U.S. Attorney Vanessa Waldref stated, "Everyone deserves to live a life free of domestic violence." She emphasized the importance of prosecuting cases involving intimate partner violence on Tribal lands as a means to address the Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) crisis.
W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Seattle field office, remarked on the case: "Everyone has the right to expect justice after being harmed, no less so when the perpetrator is your partner." He commended the victim for advocating for herself and expressed hope that the sentence provides some comfort. Herrington noted that Grant-Schmidt's imprisonment contributes to community safety.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI and Spokane Tribal Police, with prosecution led by Special Assistant United States Attorney Michael L. Vander Giessen.