Spirit Lake Reservation

Tokio, North Dakota man gets 33 years for neglect and death of child in 2022 on Spirit Lake Reservation

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — A Tokio, North Dakota man is sentenced to 33 years in prison for the 2022 death of a child on Spirit Lake Reservation. Twenty-nine year old Austin Lester previously pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter, two counts of child neglect in Indian country and assault of a child with a dangerous weapon. Co-defendant Krissy Hinsley was also…

St. Michael man sentenced to federal prison for fatal drunk driving crash in 2022

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — A St. Michael, North Dakota man is sentenced to over five years in federal prison for involuntary manslaughter. 46-year-old Ryan Guy was sentenced by District Judge Peter Welte in Fargo. In February 2022, Guy was behind the wheel when he rolled his vehicle on Spirit Lake Reservation, killing a passenger. Guy’s blood alcohol content was 0.164,…

Tokio, North Dakota man pleads guilty in 3-year-old’s death

TOKIO, N.D. (KVRR) — A Tokio, North Dakota man pleads guilty to involuntary manslaughter, two counts of child neglect and assault of a child with a dangerous weapon. Austin Lester, 29,  is charged with the neglect and death of a three-year-old child on the Spirit Lake Reservation in August 2022. Lester’s co-defendant Krissy Hinsley was also charged with Involuntary Manslaughter…

Federal Murder Charges Filed Against Man Accused Of Killing Family Members on Spirit Lake Reservation

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (KVRR) — A man is charged with second-degree murder and attempted murder for a shooting last week on Spirit Lake Reservation south of Devils Lake. Johnnie Gaking, 27, of St. Michael is accused of shooting and killing his sister, 31-year-old Tiana Walking Eagle, and her 3-year-old daughter, Lokia, on March 4. He also shot his mother in…

St. Michael Man Sentenced For Crash Left Three People Dead

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — A St. Michael, North Dakota man is sentenced to just under five years in prison after pleading guilty to three counts of manslaughter. Prosecutors say 19-year-old Winter Bigtrack was driving a vehicle on Spirit Lake Reservation that was involved in a two-vehicle crash last August. Three people in his vehicle died. They say Bigtrack was under…

Man sentenced to life in prison for death of five-year-old

Chief Judge Peter Welte handed down the sentence to Erich Longie, Jr. of Tokio.

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — One of the two people involved in the death of a five-year-old girl on the Spirit Lake Reservation has been sentenced to life in prison. Chief Judge Peter Welte handed down the sentence to Erich Longie, Jr. of Tokio, North Dakota in federal court. Longie, Jr. plead guilty multiple felony charges involving First-Degree Felony Murder, Child…