Marty Man, Gavin Little and Yankton Man, Christian Garcia Plead Guilty to Kidnapping and Assault
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that Gavin Little, age 23, of Marty, South Dakota, and Christian Garcia, age 24, of Yankton, South Dakota, appeared before U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier on August 15, 2019, and pled guilty to an Indictment that charged Little with Kidnapping and Garcia with Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury.
The maximum penalty upon conviction for Little is life in federal prison, and/or $250,000 fine, 5 years of supervised release, and $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be imposed.
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The maximum penalty upon conviction for Garcia is 10 years in federal prison, and/or $250,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release, and $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be imposed.
On or about November 25, 2018, Little and Garcia, along with two juveniles, assaulted an adult male at a home in east housing of Marty, on the Yankton Sioux Indian Reservation. After the man was severely beaten and unconscious, Little loaded him into a vehicle and left the scene. A high speed chase ensued near Greenwood, before Little abandoned the vehicle and fled away on foot. Tribal officers discovered the unconscious man in the back of the vehicle. He was flown to Sioux Falls for emergency medical treatment.
The investigation was conducted by the Yankton Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey C. Clapper.
A presentence investigation was ordered and a sentencing date was set for November 4, 2019. Both Little and Garcia were remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending sentencing.
