Acting United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that Warren Purvis, age 24, of Timber Lake, South Dakota, was found guilty of Simple Assault as a result of a court trial in Pierre, South Dakota.

Purvis was charged by Information on September 10, 2015. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 6 months in custody and/or a $5,000 fine, and a $10 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

The conviction arose from a September 8, 2015, incident when Purvis and the victim had a disagreement and he hit her. The victim attempted to call the police, and Purvis took her phone away. He later gave her the phone back and she was able to call 911.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Miller prosecuted the case.

Purvis was sentenced to time served, eight days, and a $10 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

The Failure to Appear charge stems from an incident when the Court allowed LaPointe to be released, ordered him on electronic monitoring, and to reside with a third party on the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation. LaPointe failed to appear for his next court appearance on July 14, 2014, and his whereabouts were unknown until February 13, 2015, when he was apprehended in Miami, Florida.

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, South Dakota Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, Rapid City Police Department, Sioux Falls Police Department, and the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tim Maher and Sarah Collins are prosecuting the case.

A presentence investigation was ordered and a sentencing date has been set for December 21, 2015. The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending sentencing.