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Date: 11-13-2024
Case Style:
United States of America v. Spencer High Hawk
Case Number: 23-CR-3695
Judge: Karen E. Schreier
Court: United States District Court for the District of South Dakota (Pennington County)
Plaintiff's Attorney: United States District Attorney's Office in Rapid City
Defendant's Attorney:
Description:
Rapid City, South Dakota criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with aiding and abetting second degree murder in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1111(a), 2, and 1153.
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Late one night, High Hawk and his father, Eugene (“Acorn”) High Hawk,
were at Acorn’s home on the Pine Ridge Reservation in Wounded Knee, South
Dakota. Battling cancer, Acorn was frail and unable to speak. A.F.H. and Dominic
Jealous of Him went to Acorn’s home to play cards when a fight broke out. Acorn
and High Hawk armed themselves with baseball bats. According to A.F.H., Acorn
hit A.F.H. as High Hawk beat Jealous of Him with a metal bat. A.F.H. escaped and
went to the hospital for his injuries.
Jealous of Him’s family reported him missing the next morning. His body
was found in the creek behind Acorn’s home. A blood trail, chemical smells and
mop fibers in the home, and drag marks suggested Jealous of Him’s body was
dragged from the house to the creek. Acorn and High Hawk were both charged with
murder, though Acorn died before trial.
At trial the Government presented Facebook messages High Hawk sent after
the killing where he bragged about murdering someone and asked for a ride out of
Wounded Knee. High Hawk told several different stories about what happened that
night, none of which aligned with A.F.H.’s.
Outcome: Defendant was found guilty.
Affirmed on appeal
Plaintiff's Experts:
Defendant's Experts:
Comments: