Pine Ridge Woman Sentenced to Over 5 Years in Federal Prison for Brutally Assaulting Another Woman in the Pine Ridge Reservation

RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Pine Ridge, South Dakota, woman convicted of Assault Resulting in Sioux Bodily Injury - Aiding and Abetting. The sentencing took place on April 6, 2026.

Jessie Sutton, 37, was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Sutton was indicted for Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury - Aiding and Abetting, as well as Assault with a Dangerous Weapon - Aiding and Abetting by a federal grand jury in November 2024. She pleaded guilty on December 22, 2025.

The charges stem from an incident in which Sutton and her sister, Joann Sutton, brutally attacked another woman about her body and head necessitating emergency surgery to address resultant brain injuries.

This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State court.

This case was investigated by the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Lindrooth prosecuted the case.

Sutton was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.