Sioux Empire Today

United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange of the U.S. District Court has sentenced a Pine Ridge, South Dakota, man convicted of Accessory after the Fact. The sentencing took place on August 1, 2024.

Charles Brings Plenty, age 32, was sentenced to ten years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $1,938.48 in restitution and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Brings Plenty was indicted for Second-Degree Murder and False Statement charges by a federal grand jury in August 2023. He pleaded guilty to Accessory after the Fact on April 3, 2024.

According to court records, Brings Plenty and his juvenile codefendant picked up the victim from the East Ridge housing area in Pine Ridge on April 21, 2023. They traveled to an isolated area near the Old Sundance Grounds in Pine Ridge while intoxicated. During the trip, a discussion about a deceased relative shared by Brings Plenty and his juvenile codefendant led to Brings Plenty questioning the victim outside of their vehicle. The juvenile codefendant then assaulted the victim with both the vehicle and a black baseball bat with assistance from Brings Plenty before leaving him behind. The victim was reported missing approximately two weeks later by his family. In July 2023, human skeletal remains were discovered north of the Old Sundance Grounds and identified through DNA testing as those of the victim.

This case fell under federal jurisdiction due to the Major Crimes Act requiring that certain violent crimes occurring in Indian country be prosecuted federally rather than at the state level.

The investigation was conducted by the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Poppen prosecuted this case.

Brings Plenty was immediately remanded into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service.