United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that an Eagle Butte, South Dakota, man convicted of Robbery and Assault by Striking, Beating, and Wounding was sentenced on September 14, 2016, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange.
Chad Ryan Lara, age 34, was sentenced to 42 months in custody, followed by 30 months of supervised release, $26.25 in restitution, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund on the robbery charge. Lara was sentenced to 6 months in custody, and ordered to pay $181.50 in restitution, along with a $25 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund on the assault case. The two sentences are to be served consecutively.
Lara was indicted on the robbery charge by a federal grand jury on March 15, 2016. Lara was indicted on the assault charge by a federal grand jury on May 17, 2016. He pled guilty to both charges on June 8, 2016.
The conviction on the robbery stemmed from an incident on March 9, 2016, when Lara entered the Mini Mart in Eagle Butte, wearing a black ski mask over his face, brandished a large knife, and demanded money from the cash register. When the clerks were unable to open the cash register, Lara grabbed it and pulled on it. One of the clerks prevented Lara from grabbing the cash register, so Lara threw down the knife, grabbed a case of Hurricane beer off the counter and fled the store. Some customers went after Lara and were able to apprehend him nearby. He was detained until the police arrived.
The conviction on the assault stemmed from an incident on April 7, 2016, when Lara was appearing on the above charge for a bail review hearing. Following the hearing, he was ordered to be detained pending trial. While awaiting transfer back to the Hughes County jail, Lara assaulted another inmate by striking him with closed fits in the face and chest area.
This cases were investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Miller prosecuted both cases.
Lara was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service