Fort Thompson Man Sentenced for Assaulting a Federal Officer

United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Fort Thompson, South Dakota man convicted of assaulting a federal officer was sentenced on April 3, 2013, by U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno.

Dwight Rank, age 25, was sentenced to 18 months of probation, with six months of home confinement; a $3,000 fine; and a $25 special assessment to the Victim Assistance Fund.

Rank was indicted by a federal grand jury on July 13, 2012, and pled guilty to a superseding information on January 22, 2013.

The charge stems from an incident occurring on January 7, 2012, wherein Rank was driving erratically and a Bureau of Indian Affairs officer observed him crossing the center line twice and the right fog line twice. The officer activated his emergency lights and siren and attempted to make a traffic stop. Rank went on a high-speed chase. Eventually, Rank stopped his vehicle in the middle of BIA Road 5 and then accelerated and began to drive away. Rank made a U-turn and stuck the officer’s vehicle before fleeing the scene.

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges prosecuted the case.