Lower Brule Woman Charged with Assaulting a Federal Officer

United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that a Lower Brule, South Dakota, woman has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer.

Samantha Dolezal, a/k/a Samantha Good Low, age 24, was indicted on February 15, 2017. She appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on February 24, 2017, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.

The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 20 years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.

The Indictment alleges that on August 21, 2016, Dolezal forcibly assaulted, resisted, opposed, impeded, intimidated, and interfered with an officer from the Bureau of Indian Affairs by using a dangerous weapon and causing bodily injury to the officer, who was engaged in the performance of his official duties and employed as a federal law enforcement officer.

The charge is merely an accusation and Dolezal is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges is prosecuting the case.

Dolezal was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has not been set.