A U.S. District Judge has sentenced two men from Fort Thompson, South Dakota, in a case involving a violent assault with a firearm.
21 year old Lawrence Taylor pleaded guilty in May (May 15, 2025) to Assault with a Dangerous Weapon and Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury. This month (Aug. 19, 2025), Taylor was sentenced to four years and nine months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
18 year old Trevin Witt pleaded guilty in February (Feb. 24, 2025) to Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, and Using and Carrying a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. In March (March 31, 2025), Witt was sentenced to 11 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $300 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
The convictions stem from a violent incident that occurred on April 13, 2024, in the Crow Creek Sioux Indian Reservation. On that day, Witt and Taylor forcibly entered the home of the victim. Witt held a gun to the head of a resident demanding to know where the victim was. When the victim came up the stairs from the basement, he was shot by Witt. The victim survived the encounter.
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State court.
This case was investigated by the FBI and BIA-Office of Justice Services – Crow Creek Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy R. Morley prosecuted the case.
Both Witt and Taylor were immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service following their respective sentencings.
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