Wyoming Man Charged with Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury and Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm

U.S. Attorney for the District of Wyoming Christopher A. Crofts announced today that on May 16, 2013, Claude Lee Duran, Jr., a 26-year-old Northern Arapaho tribal member, appeared in federal court after having been indicted in a two-count indictment charging him with assault resulting in serious bodily injury, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 113(a)(6) and 1153, and with assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 113(a)(3) and 1153. The charges against Mr. Duran stem from an incident that occurred on September 28, 2012 on the Wind River Indian Reservation in which he is alleged to have assaulted Blaine Collins Oldman with a bat, stick, or metal rod, causing serious injuries. This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

An indictment is only an accusation. In every criminal case, the accused is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty, and the government always has the burden of proving guilt at trial beyond a reasonable doubt.