Agency Village Man Charged with Assault with Intent to Commit Murder

United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that an Agency Village, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for assault with intent to commit murder, assault with a dangerous weapon, and assault resulting in serious bodily injury.

John Matthew Pilcher, age 48, was indicted on March 5, 2019.  He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge William Gerdes on May 13, 2019, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.

According to the Indictment, on or about the 10th day of November 2018, Pilcher assaulted the victim with a dangerous weapon, namely a knife or a sharp-edged object, with the intent to commit murder, and the assault did result in serious bodily injury. 

The maximum penalties upon conviction for each count are as follows:  20 years and 10 years of imprisonment and/or a $250,000 fine; a mandatory minimum term of five (3) years of supervised release; $100 special assessment for victim/witness fund; and restitution may be ordered.

The charges are merely accusations and Pilcher is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. 

The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy R. Jehangiri is prosecuting the case.   

Pilcher was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.  A trial date of June 25, 2019, has been set.