St. Francis Woman Sentenced to Over 2 Years in Federal Prison for Assault with a Dangerous Weapon

PIERRE - United States Attorney Ron Parsons, announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a St. Francis, South Dakota woman convicted of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon. The sentencing took place on February 2, 2026.

Leah Leading Fighter, age 44, was sentenced to two years and five months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Leading fighter was indicted by a federal grand jury in December 2024. She pleaded guilty on November 6, 2025.

The conviction stemmed from an incident that occurred in September 2023 in the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation. In the early morning hours of September 24, 2023, Leading Fighter entered a residence in St. Francis, and began assaulting the victim, an adult woman, who was asleep. Leading Fighter dragged the woman out of the residence and continued assaulting her, including repeatedly kicking and stomping her face, back, and stomach with shod feet. The victim suffered injuries that required hospitalization.

This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.

Leading Fighter was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.