Law

Guilty plea for stabbing of BIA superintendent in South Dakota

Wednesday, July 1, 2015

A view of the Crow Creek Sioux Reservation in South Dakota. Photo from Facebook

A South Dakota man pleaded guilty for stabbing a Bureau of Indian Affairs official in the back.

Brian Iron Boulder, a member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, pleaded guilty to attempted murder on June 23. He admitted that he tried to kill Patrick Duffy, the superintendent of the BIA agency on the Crow Creek Sioux Reservation, on March 25.

"Iron Boulder normally does not carry weapons with him, however on this day, he intentionally brought a pocket knife, with a four inch blade, with him," a factual basis filed in federal court stated. "Iron Boulder intentionally had the blade extended on the knife when he entered the building wanting to speak with Superintendent Duffy."

"Superintendent Duffy was in a meeting, but agreed to speak with Iron Boulder," it continued. "The two began to walk down the hallway, with Duffy in front and Iron Boulder a few steps behind him. At this time, Iron Boulder took the knife out of his pocket and intentionally stabbed Superintendent Duffy in the center of the back with the knife."

Iron Boulder did not explain why he wanted to kill Duffy, who is a member of the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe. But he previously went to the office to talk about his girlfriend's land and leases on the reservation, the document states.

Iron Boulder will be sentenced on September 14. He faces a punishment in the range of 188 to 235 months, according to the plea agreement, but the judge could always depart from the recommendation.

Get the Story:
Man accused of stabbing BIA official in back pleads guilty (AP 7/1)
Iron Boulder: I tried to kill BIA's Duffy (The Pierre Capital Journal 6/24)