A federal jury in Rapid City, South Dakota, has found Franklin Long Black Cat, 32, of Pine Ridge, guilty of assaulting a federal officer and making threats to murder two federal officers. The verdict was delivered on January 29, 2026, after a two-day trial.
According to United States Attorney Ron Parsons, the charges stem from an incident on November 18, 2025. At that time, Long Black Cat was in the custody of the United States Marshals Service at the federal courthouse in Rapid City for a court hearing. During his detention, he spit in the face of one Deputy U.S. Marshal and threatened to shoot two other Deputy U.S. Marshals.
Long Black Cat had been indicted by a federal grand jury in November 2025.
The maximum penalty for assaulting a federal officer is eight years in prison and/or a $250,000 fine. Each threat charge carries up to ten years imprisonment and/or a $250,000 fine. All three charges also include up to three years of supervised release and require payment of a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Schroeder prosecuted it.
A presentence investigation has been ordered by the court; sentencing will be scheduled at a later date. Long Black Cat remains in custody with the U.S. Marshals Service pending sentencing.
