A woman from St. Francis, South Dakota, has been sentenced to federal prison for assault with a dangerous weapon. U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte handed down the sentence on February 2, 2026.
Leah Leading Fighter, age 44, received a sentence of two years and five months in federal prison. After serving her time, she will be on supervised release for three years and must pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Leading Fighter was indicted by a federal grand jury in December 2024 and pleaded guilty on November 6, 2025.
The conviction is related to an incident that took place in September 2023 on the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation. According to court records, Leading Fighter entered a residence in St. Francis during the early morning hours of September 24, 2023. She assaulted an adult woman who was asleep at the time, dragged her out of the home, and continued the attack by kicking and stomping her face, back, and stomach while wearing shoes. The victim required hospitalization due to her injuries.
The investigation was conducted by Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. The case was prosecuted by Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson.
Following sentencing, Leading Fighter was immediately taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service.
