Waubay Man Sentenced to 20 Months in Federal Prison for Assault with a Dangerous Weapon

ABERDEEN - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced a Waubay, South Dakota, man convicted of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon. The sentencing took place on August 17, 2026. Dawson Roger Locke, age 19, was sentenced to 20 months in federal prison, 3 years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100. Locke was indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2025. He pleaded guilty on June 1, 2026. The conviction stemmed from an incident on June 28, 2025 when Locke shot another young adult with a handgun. Locke and others were drinking in Enemy Swim, SD when Locke got into an argument with one of the other individuals present. As the argument escalated, Locke drew a handgun from his waistband and fired three shots in the direction of the victim. One of the shots hit the victim in the leg. This case was investigated by the FBI and the Sisseton-Wahpeton Tribal Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Ebert-Webb prosecuted the case. This matter is being 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. Locke was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.