SIOUX FALLS, SD – The U.S. Attorney’s office in South Dakota says a Clark rancher has pleaded guilty to a theft charge related to improperly branding cattle to obtain grazing privileges from the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. U.S. Attorney Brendan Johnson says that 70-year-old Donald Dunlavy pleaded guilty to a charge of theft from an Indian tribe on Monday. He’s scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 3 and could face a maximum sentence of one year in prison or a $100,000 fine. Johnson said Dunlavy conspired to disguise his cattle as cattle owned by a Cheyenne River Sioux tribal member by branding the animals with a co-conspirator’s brand. That allowed Dunlavy and others to avoid paying the $6 per head, per month fee.
© 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved.