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Press Release

Allen Man Sentenced to 17 Years and 6 Months for Second Degree Murder

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of South Dakota

United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that an Allen, South Dakota man convicted of Second Degree Murder was sentenced on July 28, 2016 by Chief Judge Jeffrey L. Viken, U.S. District Court.

Nile Paul Waters, a/k/a Nile Hollow Horn Bear, age 21, was sentenced to 17 years and 6 months in custody; 3 years supervised release, $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund, and $858.36 in restitution.

Waters was indicted for Second Degree Murder by a federal grand jury on July 14, 2015.  He pled guilty on March 25, 2016.

On July 6, 2015, Waters was in Pine Ridge, South Dakota, with his girlfriend, Stanna Piper.  Later in the day, Waters and Piper met Theodore Red Cloud, the victim, at Red Cloud’s residence.  Waters, Piper, and Red Cloud went to another residence in the Old Sundance Grounds area.  They began drinking alcohol.  Waters and Red Cloud had a verbal altercation and physical struggle inside the trailer.  Red Cloud then left the trailer.  Moments later, a sliding glass door was broken.  Waters and Piper went outside to see what happened.  Once outside, Waters and Red Cloud each had a club-like weapon and they got into another physical altercation.  Red Cloud fell to the ground.  The Waters hit Red Cloud at least four times on his body with the club-like weapon.  Red Cloud died as a result of his injuries from the assault. At least one other individual was involved in the assault.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Justice Services, and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn N. Rich prosecuted the case.

Waters was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

Updated August 1, 2016

Topic
Violent Crime