U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Martin, South Dakota, man convicted of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury. The sentencing took place on March 23, 2026.
Jose Jimenez, 40, was sentenced to five years and three months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. He was further ordered to pay $31,523.68 in restitution to the victim of his crime and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Jimenez was indicted for two counts of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury and two counts of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon by a federal grand jury in September 2024. He pleaded guilty on December 8, 2025.
In July 2024, at approximately noon, Jimenez was driving a truck eastbound toward Batesland when he encountered another vehicle on Highway 18. In a no-passing zone on a hill, and while speeding, Jimenez struck the victim’s vehicle head on. The elderly male victim was life-flighted to Monument Health in Rapid City. He suffered multiple spinal injuries, a facial fracture, and multiple contusions and has undergone multiple surgeries. Jimenez and his passenger were uninjured.
After crashing into the victim’s vehicle, Jimenez discarded a bottle of alcohol from his vehicle. In the truck, law enforcement found one empty bottle of alcohol and another, unopened bottle of alcohol. Jimenez tested positive for alcohol on scene but was under the legal limit at the time of the accident. At sentencing, Jimenez asked for leniency due to his substance abuse history and because he was “hung over” at the time of the accident.
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 Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety, Criminal Investigations Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Poppen prosecuted the case.
Jimenez was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
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