Two Cherry Creek Men Charged with Murder, Asault, and Tampering with Evidence

United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that two Cherry Creek, South Dakota, men have been indicted by a federal grand jury for Second Degree Murder, Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, and Tampering with Evidence.

Jerome White Horse, Jr., age 60, was indicted on March 9, 2020, for Second Degree Murder, Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, and Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury.  Samuel White Horse, age 31, was indicted on March 9, 2020, for Second Degree Murder, Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, and Tampering with Evidence.  They both appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on March 11, 2020, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.

The maximum penalty upon conviction is life in prison and/or a $250,000 fine, 5 years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.  Restitution may also be ordered.

The Indictment alleges that on February 12, 2020, at Cherry Creek, South Dakota, Jerome and Samuel assaulted and, with malice aforethought, murdered a male victim by beating him with a garden hoe.  Samuel later concealed the garden hoe with the intent to impair its availability for use in and obstruct the criminal investigation.  Jerome is Samuel’s father. 

The charges are merely accusations and Jerome and Samuel are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. 

The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook is prosecuting the case.   

Jerome and Samuel were both remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial.  A trial date has been set for May 5, 2020.