Another victory in the federal crackdown on tribal domestic violence that is happening in northern Michigan Indian nations – Five U.P. women have been sent to the hospital as domestic violence victims since last week’s murder at K.I. Sawyer

KBIC man admits he assaulted his girlfriend by strangling her

The strong KBIC woman survived – He’s off to federal prison

By Greg Peterson
U.P. Breaking News
Owner, News Director
906-273-2433

(Marquette, MI) – Another victory today in the federal war against tribal domestic violence as a Baraga County man was sent to prison after pleading “assault by strangulation” of his girlfriend on Keweenaw Bay Indian Community lands.

An admitted abuser of women, Scott Joseph Loonsfoot, 38, was ordered to get anger management treatment when he was sentenced on Thursday Dec. 15, 2016 by U.S. District Court Judge Robert Holmes Bell. Tribal members who have been habitually convicted in state and local courts for domestic violence – the bad ones – end up in Federal court

In a plea agreement with federal prosecutors, Loonsfoot admitted that he assaulted his girlfriend by choking her on April 15, 2016 at “a residence in Baraga County within” the KBIC “exterior boundaries.” “The defendant, an Indian male,assaulted his dating partner” an “Indian female, by strangling or attempting to strangle her.”

“During the altercation” with his girlfriend, Loonsfoot “grabbed her by the neck and intentionally applied pressure” and “as a result” the victim “could not breathe”

The sentenced was handed down just hours before a Marquette County woman would be murdered – as victim of domestic violence at K.I. Sawyer.

Loonsfoot could have been sentenced to up to 10 years in federal prison.

Loonsfoot was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison.

U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Miles, Jr. in Grand Rapids is sending a message to Indian Country – you will be prosecuted and you will go to prison.

Mile’s main weapon against tribal domestic violence in the U.P. is Assistant U.S. Attorney Hannah Bobee – who works with the other federal prosecutors in Marquette, MI – Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul D. Lochner and Assistant U.S. Attorney Maarten Vermaat.

Federal prisons do not offer early parole, and after serving the year and a half in prison,

After prison, Loonsfoot will be on two years of “supervised released.”

Loonsfoot entered into a plea agreement with federal prosecutors and other felony charges were dropped. Loonsfoot is represented by Asst. Federal Public Defender Elizabeth A. LaCosse.

The federal documents on the sentencing were released today, Monday, Dec. 19, 2016.

Loonsfoot has ties to Baraga, L’Anse and Grand Rapids, MI.