Cannon Ball Man Sentenced for Assault on a Federal Officer

BISMARCK, ND—U.S. Attorney Timothy Q. Purdon announced that on September 24, 2012, Bruce Flying Horse, 23, of Cannon Ball, North Dakota, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Daniel L. Hovland on a charge of assaulting a federal officer.

Flying Horse pleaded guilty to the charge on June 22, 2012. Judge Hovland ordered Flying Horse imprisoned for a period of seven months, followed by a placement at a half-way house for an additional six months. Flying Horse will be on supervised release for two years. Flying Horse must pay a $100 special assessment to the Crime Victim’s Fund.

On February 21, 2012, law enforcement officers responded to a disturbance call from a Cannon Ball residence. When officers arrived, Flying Horse was detained by the occupants of the residence. When the officers attempted to place Flying Horse under arrest, Flying Horse began striking out towards the officers, and Flying Horse struck a federal officer in the chin.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Indian Affairs-Standing Rock Agency, Standing Rock Police Department, and Standing Rock Tribal Prosecutor’s Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Gary Delorme prosecuted the case.