United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that Lester
Waters, Jr., age 38, was found guilty of 2 counts of Assault with a Dangerous
Weapon, 2 counts of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, and 2 counts of
Discharging, Brandishing, or Possessing a Firearm During and in Relation to a
Crime of Violence following a federal trial in Rapid City, South Dakota.
Each assault charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years
in federal prison, and/or a $250,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release, and a
$100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. The two firearms charges each carry a
mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison.
Evidence at trial established Waters fired a pistol four
times while at a party at a Pine Ridge residence on January 25, 2018. Three of the bullets struck one of the
victims, ultimately paralyzing him.
Another bullet struck a second victim in the face, causing extensive
injuries.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a
program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities
they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for
everyone. The Department of Justice
reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of its renewed focus on targeting violent
criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with
federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and local communities to
develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
This case was investigated by the Oglala Sioux Tribe
Department of Public Safety and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Heather Sazama and
Eric Kelderman prosecuted and tried the case.
A sentencing date was set for September 17, 2019. Waters was remanded to the custody of the
U.S. Marshals Service pending sentencing.
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