Little Eagle Man Sentenced for Habitual Domestic Violence and Sexual Abuse

PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann sentenced a Little Eagle, South Dakota, man convicted of Sexual Abuse by Force and Habitual Domestic Violence. The sentencing took place on September 19, 2023.

Anthony Bobtail Bear, age 43, was sentenced to 17 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. 

Bobtail Bear was indicted by a federal grand jury in February of 2022. A Superseding Information was filed, and the defendant changed his plea to guilty on June 26, 2023.

The defendant was convicted of physically and sexually abusing the mother of his child at a home in Little Eagle. The victim sustained bruising to her head, suffered a loss of consciousness during the abuse, and ultimately required surgery to repair the injuries she sustained from the abuse. The defendant and victim were in a tumultuous on again/off again relationship. This is the defendant’s fifth conviction for assaulting the victim, and sixth conviction for domestic violence against his dating partners.

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 Bureau of Indian Affairs – Office of Justice Services, Standing Rock Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy R. Morley prosecuted the case.

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