Alison J. Ramsdell U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota
Alison J. Ramsdell U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota
A woman from Bullhead, South Dakota, has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for assault with a dangerous weapon. U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann handed down the sentence on June 23, 2025.
Kaitlyn Shantell Left Hand, aged 27, received her sentence after pleading guilty to the charges earlier this year on February 26. In addition to her prison term, she will undergo three years of supervised release and is required to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
The incident occurred on July 2, 2024, within the Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation. Left Hand intervened in a fight between two women but ended up using a small knife during the altercation. Her actions resulted in injuries that required stitches for both victims.
Federal jurisdiction was applied under the Major Crimes Act because the offense took place in Indian country. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem and investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs – Office of Justice Services.
Following her sentencing, Left Hand was placed into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service.
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