United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Assault by Strangulation and Suffocation and Escape from Custody was sentenced on September 23, 2019, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange.

Roger James Spider, II, a/k/a Roger Spider, Jr., age 29, was sentenced to a total of 40 months in federal prison.  He was sentenced to 37 months in federal prison for Assault by Strangulation and Suffocation, and 3 months in federal prison for Escape from Custody, with such sentences to be served consecutively, followed by 3 years of supervised release.  Spider was also ordered to pay a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $200.

The conviction for Assault by Strangulation and Suffocation stemmed from an incident that occurred on April 24, 2018, in Mission, South Dakota.  On that date, Spider assaulted his girlfriend by grabbing her by the throat and strangling her until she began to lose consciousness.  Spider was indicted by a federal grand jury on July 17, 2018.  He pled guilty on July 1, 2019.

The conviction for Escape from Custody stemmed from conduct that occurred in January 2019, while Spider was in custody pending trial.  On January 18, 2019, Spider was granted a furlough to undergo a medical evaluation in Rapid City on January 22, 2019.  Spider subsequently failed to return from the furlough and was arrested in Rapid City on January 26, 2019.  Spider was indicted by a federal grand jury on February 12, 2019.  He plead guilty on July 1, 2019.

These cases were investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Rapid City Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the cases.

Spider was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Mission, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Escape from Custody and Criminal Contempt.

Roger James Spider, II, a/k/a Roger Spider, Jr., age 28, was indicted on February 13, 2019.  He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on February 20, 2019, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.

The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 5 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.  Restitution may also be ordered.

Spider was indicted for Assault by Strangulation and Suffocation and Domestic Assault by an Habitual Offender on July 17, 2018.  He made his initial appearance on that Indictment on December 18, 2018, and was detained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial.

The Indictment alleges that on January 22, 2019, Spider failed to report to the Hughes County Jail following a furlough, as ordered by the U.S. District Court for the District of South Dakota.  The Indictment further alleges that Spider willfully and unlawfully disobeyed an order of the U.S. District Court, by not following the terms of the furlough order.

The charges are merely accusations and Spider is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. 

The investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Marshals Service.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson is prosecuting the case.   

Spider was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial.  A trial date has not been set.

United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Mission, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Assault by Strangulation and Suffocation and Domestic Assault by an Habitual Offender.

Roger James Spider, II, a/k/a Roger Spider, Jr., age 28, was indicted on July 17, 2018.  He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on December 18, 2018, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.

The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 10 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.  Restitution may also be ordered.

The Indictment alleges that on multiple occasions between April 24, 2018, and April 26, 2018, Spider unlawfully committed a domestic assault against his intimate partner by strangling and suffocating her and that, at the time of the domestic assaults, Spider had at least two prior convictions for offenses that would have been, if subject to federal jurisdiction, assaults against a spouse or intimate partner.

The charges are merely accusations and Spider is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. 

The investigation is being conducted by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson is prosecuting the case.   

Spider was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial.  A trial date has not been set.