A 32-year-old Pine Ridge man has been sentenced to more than three years in federal prison after being convicted of assaulting and threatening federal officers.
Franklin Long Black Cat was sentenced to three years and five months in prison by a federal court, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for South Dakota. In addition to the prison term, he will serve three years of supervised release and must pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Long Black Cat was found guilty of assaulting a federal officer and threatening a federal officer following a two-day jury trial that concluded in January 2026.
The charges stem from an incident on November 18, 2025, at the federal courthouse in Rapid City. Prosecutors say that while in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service for a court appearance, Long Black Cat spit in the face of a deputy U.S. marshal. He also threatened to shoot two other deputy U.S. marshals during the encounter.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Schroeder.
Officials said Long Black Cat was immediately remanded into the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service following his sentencing.
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