Jury Convicts Fort Thompson Man of Assaulting Federal Officer
Patrick Wind was found guilty after a two-day trial over an incident at the Lower Brule jail in May 2025.
By Amina Kaminski ·
A jury in Pierre, South Dakota, convicted Patrick Wind of assaulting a federal officer on October 29, 2026. The 34-year-old man, also known as Patrick Azure, faced a maximum penalty of eight years in custody and a $250,000 fine. The verdict followed a two-day trial in federal district court. United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced the outcome of the case.
The incident that led to the charges occurred on May 14, 2025, on the Lower Brule Sioux Indian Reservation. A Bureau of Indian Affairs officer responded to a call in Fort Thompson to remove Wind from a residence. The officer found Wind inside and transported him to the local jail in Lower Brule. While at the facility, Wind became combative and physically attacked the officer by kicking and headbutting him.
Wind was indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2025. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs Lower Brule Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan Dilges handled the prosecution. The jury deliberated before returning the guilty verdict for the charge of Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer.
The conviction carries additional penalties beyond prison time. Wind faces three years of supervised release and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. He has been remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. A presentence investigation has been ordered to prepare for the next steps in the legal process.
A sentencing date has not yet been set. The court will determine the final sentence after reviewing the findings from the presentence investigation. Wind remains in federal custody while he awaits that hearing. The case has closed the trial phase but continues through the sentencing phase.
