Watauga Man Convicted by Federal Jury for Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm and Simple Assault on a Federal Officer

ABERDEEN - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that Justin James Schneider, age 39, of Watauga, South Dakota, was found guilty on August 8, 2024, of Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm and Simple Assault on a Federal Officer following a two-day federal jury trial in Aberdeen, South Dakota. The jury also found Schneider committed these offenses on pretrial release and that his revolver was subject to forfeiture.

The charge of Prohibited Person carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered. The charge of Simple Assault on a Federal Officer carries a maximum penalty of one year in federal prison and/or a $100,000 fine, one year of supervised release, and a $25 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered. Because Schneider committed these offenses on pretrial release, the Court may impose up to an additional 10 years in federal prison.

Schneider was indicted by a federal grand jury in July of 2023.

On June 20, 2023, the Corson County Sheriff's Office received credible information that Schneider had discharged a revolver earlier that day and was armed and dangerous. The Corson County Sheriff requested and received assistance from the Bureau of Indian Affairs - Office of Justice Services to detain and arrest Schneider. A BIA officer found Schneider in Bullhead, South Dakota, which lies within the Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation. When the officer attempted to arrest him, Schneider fled in his pickup to a nearby pasture and engaged in an armed stand-off with Corson County deputies and BIA police officers. Schneider eventually hopped back into his pickup and fled to the Bullhead Community Center, striking a squad car enroute. Schneider then dismounted from his pickup, brandishing a revolver, gesturing wildly towards nearby civilians and disregarding repeated police commands to drop his gun. As Schneider moved quickly towards unarmed children, a police officer shot him to protect the public. Schneider was taken into custody without further incident.

Schneider has nine prior felony convictions, including convictions for Aggravated Assault, Assault Against a Law Enforcement Officer, Felony Driving Under the Influence, Possession of Methamphetamine, and Ingestion of Methamphetamine.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities and measuring the results.

This case was prosecuted by the federal government because Schneider is a dangerous felon prohibited from possessing firearms under federal law, federal law enforcement involvement in his arrest, and because the offense occurred within the Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation.

This case was investigated by the FBI, the Corson County Sheriff's Office, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs - Office of Justice Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem prosecuted the case.

A presentence investigation report was ordered and a sentencing date of November 4, 2024, was set. Schneider remains in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending sentencing.