South Dakota
man charged in slaying
Omaha, Nebraska (AP)
A South Dakota man has been arrested on suspicion of stabbing a man to death on the Omaha Reservation. Tyler Peneaux, 19, of St. Francis, S.D., was arrested July 10 and charged with second-degree murder by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Omaha on July 11. He is suspected of stabbing Terrell John Wolfe, 21, outside a mobile home at the edge of the reservation near Macy. A witness says Peneaux stabbed Wolfe while Wolfe sat in the front passenger seat of a car, according to court documents.
Creek Nation sponsors tribal voter summit
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (AP)
The Muscogee (Creek) Nation sponsored a tribal summit with hopes of encouraging tribal members to vote in this year’s election. The summit was held July 18 at the tribe’s headquarters north of Okmulgee. Most of the candidates in the governor’s race had agreed to either attend or send a representative, said George Tiger, the speaker of the nation’s National Council. Other candidates in both state and congressional races also have been invited to speak at the summit, which should draw representatives from about 20 tribes.
Man indicted in shooting on Navajo Reservation
Salt Lake City, Utah (AP)
A Navajo man accused in the shooting death of another man on the Navajo Nation Reservation was indicted during July by a federal grand jury on a charge of second-degree murder. Jeremy Harrison, 19, of Montezuma Creek also was charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and assault resulting in serious bodily injury while within Indian Country, Acting U.S. Attorney Stephen J. Sorenson said in a release. Harrison was arrested in the shooting death of Alphonso Benally, 28, also of Montezuma Creek, which is in the Utah portion of the reservation. Louis St. Germaine, a Navajo criminal investigator said alcohol was believed to be a factor in the shooting.
Two Shields convicted of killing Fort Yates man
Bismarck, North Dakota (AP)
A Cannon Ball man accused in the beating death of a Fort Yates man has been convicted of second-degree murder and assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Melvin Troy Two Shields, 34, was found guilty on July 13 of killing 57-year-old Thomas Buffalo Boy. Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 2., U.S. Attorney Drew Wrigley said. Buffalo Boy suffered severe trauma to his head and face during the assault on Jan. 21, on the Standing Rock Reservation, Wrigley said. Buffalo Boy drove to his sister’s home in Fort Yates after the assault. He was taken to a Bismarck hospital, where he died about 12 hours later, Wrigley said. Bureau of Indian Affairs police arrested Two Shields at Buffalo Boy’s home. Wrigley said Two Shields was “passed out on the floor of the home.”
Arson suspected in fire
at old Sitting Bull campus
Fort Yates, North Dakota (AP)
Authorities believe someone set a fire on the old Sitting Bull College campus. No one was hurt in the fire, which was reported about 4:30 a.m. July 2. But officials said it caused thousands of dollars in smoke damage and forced the college staff to move during the cleanup. The fire started on the outside of an unused doorway on the side of the main campus building, leading to a storage room, officials said. Two fire doors helped contain the blaze, they said.
Dunseith man
sentenced in fatal crash
Bismarck, North Dakota (AP)
A man has been sentenced to more than five years in prison for a fatal crash last October. Michael Counts, 31, of Dunseith, pleaded guilty in April to a charge of involuntary manslaughter and was sentenced June 26, the U.S. attorney’s office said. Authorities said Counts was driving a pickup that struck a car Oct. 29, killing the driver, Albert Davis, 70, of Belcourt. The crash happened on a Bureau of Indian Affairs road northeast of Dunseith, authorities said. Counts left the scene of the crash and was arrested a short time later, prosecutors said. Blood tests showed methamphetamine in his system at the time of his arrest, they said.
Cherokees donate millions to fix bridges
Tulsa, Oklahoma (AP)
The Cherokee Nation will donate nearly $5 million to help repair eight bridges in six northeastern Oklahoma counties, tribal and state officials announced. Gary Ridley, director of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, and Chief Chad Smith made the announcement during July at the department’s divisional headquarters in Tulsa. “This partnership is a win-win,” Smith said. “It helps everyone.” Ridley said the assistance is sorely needed.
Man pleads not guilty in stabbing of Navy SEAL
Great Falls, Montana (AP)
A Wolf Point man accused in the April stabbing death of a Navy SEAL who was home on leave pleaded not guilty in federal court. Gerald Lee Littlehead, 22, is charged with second-degree murder and voluntary manslaughter in the death of Michael Bell, 22. Littlehead’s brother, David Zephier, 29, is awaiting trial on attempted murder and complicity charges in Fort Peck Tribal Court. Bell got into an argument with the two brothers on April 12 at a Wolf Point bar and threw a punch at Zephier, court documents said. Witnesses said Littlehead then came from behind and landed four or five blows to Bell’s body, possibly with a knife, court records said. Another witness said Littlehead came to her house after the incident and told her he had stabbed someone, court documents allege. Bell was home on leave from Hawaii, where he was stationed in the Navy. His platoon has since been deployed to Iraq.
Biker complex being constructed near Sturgis
Sturgis, South Dakota (AP)
The first phase of a large campground and concert area is nearly finished near Bear Butte for bikers who will attend the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally during August. Jay Allen received a liquor license for the campground – over the objections of American Indians who consider the mountain to be sacred. About 25 of them are camped near Bear Butte to show their displeasure, and many more are expected to arrive before the motorcycle rally begins.
Micmac suspend chief, launch probe into funds
Presque Isle, Maine (AP)
The chief of the Aroostook Band of Micmacs has been suspended as dozens of tribal members call for his ouster. William Phillips, who has served as chief for seven years, has been accused of failing to show up for work regularly. Critics in the 1,000-member tribe also say he has been involved in a misuse of tribal funds. The council appointed an investigative committee that will present its findings at the community meeting on July 30.
Tribe moving forward with refinery partnership
Tulsa, Oklahoma (AP)
The Sac and Fox Nation is moving forward with plans to enter a partnership working to build a billion-dollar oil refinery in north-central Oklahoma, Chief Kay Rhoads said. The 3,400-member tribe plans to look near Cushing for land that it could purchase and place into trust status for tax breaks. The tribe’s partners, SEM Green of Tulsa and M&M Energy Group of Florida, would provide the financing for the project, officials said. Rhoads said skyrocketing oil prices convinced the tribe to look into energy source development.
Man gets life with no parole for fatal shooting
Green Bay, Wisconsin (AP)
A Brown County judge who says she was affected by a convicted killer’s lack of remorse and emotion, sentenced him to spend the rest of his life in prison with no chance of parole. Cody Skinkis, 20, showed no reaction when Judge Sue Bischel sentenced him recently for killing David LaCount, a man who considered Skinkis to be one of his closest friends. Bischel added another 40 years for the attempted murder of Sam Warpinski. In a letter to the court read at sentencing, Warpinski, who was now confined to a wheelchair, told Skinkis he lives in constant pain and will never forget the last words Skinkis said to him before he pulled the trigger: “Say goodbye to your face.” According to the criminal complaint, Skinkis followed LaCount to the basement of LaCount’s duplex in May last year and shot him from about two feet away, in the back of the head. He then approached Warpinski, who had been sleeping, awakened him, pointed the gun at him and fired, the complaint said. Skinkis was arrested after a manhunt on the Menominee Reservation.
