Omak Man Sentenced to 96 Months in Federal Prison for Shooting on the Colville Indian Reservation

Spokane, Washington – United States District Court Judge Thomas O. Rice sentenced Chance
The Wind Smith, age 32, of Omak, Washington, to 96 months in federal prison for a violent
shooting that took place on the Colville Indian Reservation in September 2021. Judge Rice also
imposed three years of federal supervision upon Smith’s release from custody. Smith pled guilty
to charges of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in Indian Country and Theft in Indian Country
in August 2022.

In announcing the sentence, Judge Rice varied upward from the advisory United States
Sentencing Guidelines range and adopted the United States’ recommendation of 96 months in
federal custody. Judge Rice specifically noted the effects of Smith’s conduct on his victims and
the seriousness of the offense, including that the shooting took place in the presence of small
children.

According to court documents and proceedings, on the night of September 11, 2021, Colville
Tribal Police and emergency medical technicians responded to a shooting in Omak, Washington.
A victim had a gunshot wound to his abdomen from a .357 caliber Sig Sauer handgun. The
victim was rushed to the local hospital and had to be life-flighted to Harborview Medical Center
in Seattle for life-saving measures. Several eyewitnesses reported that Smith, who had fled the
scene, shot the victim in the stomach and stole the victim’s Dodge Charger. As Smith was
driving away in the stolen car, he almost ran over a five-year old child. An audio and video
recording of the incident demonstrated that Smith physically assaulted a female witness just
seconds before the shooting and the theft of the victim’s car. Fortunately, the victim survived,
and he continues to recover from the injuries sustained during the shooting.

“My office is committed to prosecuting those who commit violence in Indian country,” U.S.
Attorney Vanessa R. Waldref stated. “I’m grateful for all victims and witnesses who come
forward to report crime. When we build trust between law enforcement and members of our
community, we make Eastern Washington safer and stronger.” U.S. Attorney Waldref continued,
“Native Americans experience some of the highest rates of violence in the country, a situation
that is all the more tragic in light of the generations of trauma already suffered by Indigenous
people. The Colville Tribal Police and the FBI did an incredible job of investigating this tragic
crime. We are grateful for the tremendous partnership between the FBI and Tribal law
enforcement, which helped achieve justice for the victim and his family.”

“Violence on our state’s Indian Reservations is at an intolerable level,” said Richard A. Collodi,
Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Seattle field office. “When you consider the impact Mr.
Smith’s crimes had on children, who were innocent witnesses, this significant sentence is
warranted. I am grateful for the professionalism of our investigators and partners who work these
difficult cases.”

The case was investigated by the Colville Tribal Police Department and the Federal Bureau of
Investigation. This case was prosecuted by Richard R. Barker, Assistant United States Attorney
for the Eastern District of Washington.

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