Acting United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that a Lower Brule, South Dakota, man convicted of Assault by Strangulation and Suffocation was sentenced on April 6, 2015, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange.

Cameron LaRoche, age 37, was sentenced to 20 months in custody, two years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

LaRoche was indicted by a federal grand jury on November 13, 2014. He pled guilty on January 21, 2015.

On or about August 21, 2014, LaRoche, who had been in a sporadic intimate relationship with the victim for the past 14 years, was at his aunt’s house drinking whiskey with others. They went inside the house and LaRoche began arguing with the victim. She went into the kitchen, where LaRoche followed her and started hitting her with closed fists on the face, head, and ear. The victim tried to defend herself by putting her arms up to protect her face. LaRoche continued to hit her a few more times with his closed fists, then stopped and apologized for what he had done to her.

LaRoche then told her he wanted to lay down with her, but the victim did not want to. LaRoche pushed her towards the basement door and forced her to go down, where he continued yelling, calling her names, and hitting her. LaRoche then threw the victim on a bed, and again hit her on the arms, head, and face. LaRoche then tried to smother her by laying on top of her, while pushing her head into the mattress. She turned her head to the right so she could breathe, while begging for her life. Moments later, LaRoche started hitting her again with his fist to her face. He then strangled her with his hands around her neck, and squeezed until the victim could not breathe.

The victim was seen by medical personnel and it was determined she possibly had a nondisplaced fracture of her wrist. She was put in a cast for several days, followed by a splint.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges prosecuted the case. LaRoche was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.