Federal Charges Filed Against Roberts County Man for Aggravated Assault and Felony Child Abuse

United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Roberts County, South Dakota, man has been charged with Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury and Felony Child Abuse and Neglect of a Child.

Michael Robinson, a/k/a Michael O’Brien, Jr., age 21, was indicted on January 7, 2020.  He appeared before the U.S. Magistrate Judge in Minneapolis, Minnesota, following his arrest, and he pled not guilty to the Indictment.

According to the Indictment, on October 3, 2019, Robinson engaged in assaultive and abusive conduct toward a child under the age of seven years.  For each charge, the maximum penalty upon conviction is up to life imprisonment with a mandatory minimum of 10 years, a monetary fine, or both, and 3 years of supervised release.  Each charge also carries a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.  Restitution may also be ordered.

The charges are merely accusations and Robinson is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Sioux Tribe’s Law Enforcement.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy R. Jehangiri is prosecuting the case.  

Robinson was released on conditions pending trial and ordered to appear in federal court in Aberdeen, South Dakota, on March 31, 2020.