United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that a White Horse, South Dakota, man convicted of Assault Resulting in Substantial Bodily Injury was sentenced on March 7, 2017, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange.
Shawn Traversie, age 32, was sentenced to 5 months in custody, followed by 2 years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Traversie was indicted by a federal grand jury on February 17, 2016. He pled guilty on December 12, 2016.
The conviction stems from an incident on December 10, 2015, when Traversie and the victim began to argue. Traversie struck the victim’s right eye with his fist. The victim saw flashes of light from the blow and was knocked off the bed and onto the floor. When the victim was still on the floor, Traversie stuck her a couple of more times on the top of the head. The victim felt that her eye socket might have some damage. In the days following the assault, she continued having headaches and felt nauseated, dizzy, and lost her balance when she stood. The victim had a non-acute fracture to a small bone in the right eye socket.
This case was investigated by the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Miller prosecuted the case.
Traversie was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.