United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell has announced the sentencing of Sinte White Butterfly, a resident of Pine Ridge, South Dakota. U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler sentenced White Butterfly to 10 years in federal prison for Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury. The sentence includes five years of supervised release and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
White Butterfly, aged 25, was indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2024 and pleaded guilty on October 29, 2024. His conviction is related to an assault on his infant daughter between one and two months old in August 2024. The assault resulted in multiple fractures throughout her body and brain damage.
In delivering the sentence, Judge Theeler remarked that the victim should have been able to rely on White Butterfly for protection but instead suffered severe injuries due to his intoxication and loss of temper. Judge Theeler emphasized that the severity of the case and White Butterfly's history of violence necessitated strong measures to protect the community.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted this case under the Major Crimes Act, which requires certain violent crimes occurring in Indian Country to be tried in federal court rather than state court.
The investigation was conducted by the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations Division, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Lindrooth handling prosecution duties.
Following sentencing, White Butterfly was placed into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service.