A Kyle, South Dakota man has been sentenced to eight years in federal prison for assaulting a woman and causing her serious injuries. The sentencing of Channing Little Whiteman, 39, was announced by United States Attorney Ron Parsons. U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler handed down the sentence on October 31, 2025.
Little Whiteman will also serve three years of supervised release following his prison term and must pay $200 in special assessments to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
According to court documents, Little Whiteman was indicted by a federal grand jury in March 2025 on six counts of assault. He pleaded guilty to two counts on July 16, 2025. Both assaults involved his girlfriend and occurred on separate dates.
On May 13, 2024, Little Whiteman and his girlfriend were drinking when an argument broke out after he accused her of infidelity. Law enforcement responded to their residence where it was determined that Little Whiteman had assaulted the victim with a bat and a cigarette, resulting in a fractured leg and a burn on her thigh.
On November 5, 2024, another argument took place under similar circumstances. During this incident, Little Whiteman struck his girlfriend in the face with a metal chair after again accusing her of cheating. This caused fractures to her orbital bone and maxillary sinus as well as a large laceration under her eye that left her unable to see until swelling subsided. At the time of this second assault, the victim was seven months pregnant.
United States Attorney Ron Parsons stated: “This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian country be prosecuted in federal court as opposed to State court.”
The case was investigated by the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Poppen.
Little Whiteman was immediately remanded into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service.
