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Press Release

McLaughlin Man Charged with First Degree Murder, Second Degree Murder, Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury to a Child, and Child Abuse

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

United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that a McLaughlin, South Dakota, man has been charged with the federal offenses of First Degree Murder, Second Degree Murder, Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury to a Child, and Child Abuse by a Superseding Indictment filed October 18, 2016.

Matthew St. Pierre, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge William D. Gerdes on December 6, 2016, and pled not guilty to the Superseding Indictment.

The maximum penalty upon conviction is a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment and/or a $1,000,000 fine, 5 years of supervised release, and $400 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.  Restitution may also be ordered.

The Superseding Indictment alleges that on or about between October 11th and October 12th, 2016, St. Pierre repeatedly struck a child, causing injuries which led to the child’s death.  It is further alleged that such acts resulted in serious bodily injury to the child and were committed while St. Pierre was committing the act of Felony Child Abuse.

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

The investigation is being conducted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs – Standing Rock Agency and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy R. Morley is prosecuting the case.   

St. Pierre was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial, which is set for February 6, 2017.

Updated December 12, 2016

Topic
Violent Crime