Pine Ridge Woman Indicted for Retaliation Against Witness

U.S. Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a woman has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Retaliation Against a Victim. Alexis Exendine, age 18, of Pine Ridge, was indicted by a federal grand jury on November 18, 2009, for Retaliation Against a Victim. She appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on December 15, 2009, and pled not guilty to the indictment. The maximum penalty upon conviction is 20 years' imprisonment and three years' supervised release. The charge is merely an accusation, and Exedine is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy R. Jehangiri is prosecuting the case. Exendine was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal. A trial date has not yet been set.