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Press Release

Kamiah Man Found Guilty Of Assaulting A Deputy

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Idaho

Coeur d'Alene B Paul Lee Oatman, 33 of Kamiah, Idaho, was convicted yesterday by a federal jury in Coeur d'Alene for assault resulting in serious bodily injury, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.

During the four day trial, the jury heard evidence that on July 13, 2013, the defendant assaulted a Kamiah Marshal and fractured his jaw in two places. The marshal was attempting to arrest a friend of the defendant, when the defendant interfered and struck the marshal in the jaw.

Paul Lee Oatman faces up to 10 years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000.00, and up to 3 years of supervised release.

Sentencing is set for September 15, 2014, before U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge at the federal courthouse in Coeur d'Alene.

“The jury's verdict sends the clear message that violent interference with a law enforcement officer engaged in his public safety duties will not be tolerated,” said Olson. “All persons have a duty to comply with a law enforcement officer's commands. I commend the hard work of prosecutors and staff from my office and the cooperative investigative work of the Nez Perce Tribal Police Department and the FBI.”

The case was investigated by Nez Perce Tribal Police, Idaho County Sheriff’s Department, Lewis County Sheriff’s Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Updated December 15, 2014

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