Pine Ridge Woman Sentenced for Second-Degree Murder

United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Pine Ridge, South Dakota woman charged with second-degree murder was sentenced on September 30, 2011, by United States District Judge Jeffrey L. Viken. Sharon McMillan, age 41, was sentenced to 210 months in custody, five years of supervised release, a $100 special assessment to the Victim Assistance Fund, and $4,000 in restitution.

McMillan was indicted by a federal grand jury on May 18, 2010. On May 1, 2010, near Long Valley, South Dakota, she killed a man by repeatedly beating the man in the head with a baseball bat. After the murder, she obstructed the administration of justice by falsely claiming that the murder was committed solely by another woman. She further obstructed justice by asking her 18-year-old daughter to falsely accuse the innocent woman of the murder.

The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Tim Maher prosecuted the case.

McMillan was immediately turned over to the custody of the United States Marshal.