Man Sentenced to 24 Months in Federal Prison for Assaulting Woman on Nez Perce Indian Reservation

Spokane – William D. Hyslop, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced that Lonnie Lee Bisbee, Jr., 35, of Lenore, Idaho, and an enrolled member of the Umatilla Tribe, was sentenced after having pleaded guilty on June 10, 2020, to Assault Resulting in Substantial Bodily Injury in Indian Country. Chief United States District Judge for the District of Idaho David C. Nye sentenced Bisbee to a two-year term of imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court supervision after he is released from federal prison.

According to information disclosed during court proceedings, Bisbee assaulted the mother of his child while they were travelling to a doctor’s appointment. The two were travelling with their infant son and another of Bisbee’s minor children, when Bisbee pulled the vehicle over, choked the victim, and threw her to the ground. Bisbee told authorities that he placed his forearm against the victim’s neck like a “forearm shiver,” then “yanked her to the ground,” causing her head to “ping” on the roadway, face first.

United States Attorney Hyslop said, “Domestic violence against women and crimes of violence like what occurred here cannot be tolerated in our society. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington works closely with our federal, state, local and Tribal law enforcement partners in investigating and prosecuting violent crime. I commend the outstanding work of the FBI and Nez Perce Tribal Police in investigating this case. The Court’s sentence rendered here should be a message that there are repercussions and jail time awaiting those who abuse and hurt others in this manner.”

“The severe assault by Lonnie Bisbee will not only have long-lasting effects on the victim, but on the young children, who should never have to witness such violence,” said Special Agent in Charge Paul Haertel of the Salt Lake City FBI. “The FBI is committed to protecting our communities and will continue to work with our law enforcement partners and the United States Attorney's office to investigate and prosecute the most serious crimes that happen on our nation's Indian reservations.”

This case was investigated by the Lewiston, Idaho, Resident Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Nez Perce Tribal Police. This case was prosecuted by Ann T. Wick, an Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, specially appointed to the District of Idaho.