Eagle Butte Woman Sentenced for Assaulting Victim with a Car

U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of South Dakota
April 17, 2012

United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that an Eagle Butte, South Dakota woman charged with assault with a dangerous weapon was sentenced on April 16, 2012 by United States District Judge Roberto A. Lange. Myrna LeClaire, age 35, was sentenced to 28 months in custody, two years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Victim Assistance Fund.

LeClaire was indicted by a federal grand jury on November 8, 2011. The conviction arises from an incident in August 2011. LeClaire was driving an automobile when she saw the victim and another male walking at an intersection in Eagle Butte. LeClaire believed a relative of the victim had assaulted her teenage daughter. Angered by this, she drove the vehicle at the victim, hitting him from behind. As a result of the car-pedestrian crash, the victim suffered pain to his left hip, left leg, and lower back. LeClaire pled guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon on January 19, 2012.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Jay Miller prosecuted the case.

LeClaire was immediately turned over to the custody of the United States Marshals Service to begin serving her sentence.