Ridgeview Man Sentenced for Assault Charges

PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a Ridgeview, South Dakota, man convicted of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon and Assaulting, Resisting and Impeding a Federal Officer. The sentencing took place on July 29, 2024.

Arthur Butcher, 37, was sentenced to seven and a half years in federal prison on each count, to run concurrently, followed by three years of supervised release on each count, to run concurrently, $2,860 in restitution, and ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Arthur Butcher was indicted by a federal grand jury in July of 2023. He pleaded guilty on May 6, 2024.

The convictions stem from Butcher assaulting his ex-wife and a Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services officer on May 29, 2023. The officer responded to a residence on the Cheyenne River Sioux Indian Reservation following a report of an assault occurring inside the home. The officer found Butcher in a bedroom lying on top of his ex-wife with a knife in his hand. After the officer told Butcher to get off the woman, Butcher kicked a taser out of the officer's hand and charged at him with the knife. Butcher stabbed the officer in an area of his chest protected by body armor and pushed the officer onto a couch, where the officer kicked Butcher back and fired three shots at Butcher, who was struck and then dropped the knife. Medical aid was provided to Butcher, and he survived. Prior to the officer's arrival, Butcher had strangled his ex-wife, hit and kicked her multiple times, dragged her around the residence by her hair, threatened her life, and cut her with a knife. Butcher caused multiple injuries to his ex-wife, including extensive bruising on her face and body, severe bruising around her neck, and lacerations to her forehead and neck.

This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State court.

This case was investigated by the FBI and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Wayne Venhuizen prosecuted the case.

Butcher was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.