Man sentenced to 5 years for assaulting a child in Yakama Nation

USDOJ NEWS RELEASE -- Wednesday, Michael C. Ormsby, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced that LaShuan Roman Nose, age 33, of Elk City, Oklahoma, was
sentenced after having been convicted by a jury of Assault Resulting in Substantial Bodily Injury
in connection with the abuse of a toddler. Senior District Court Judge Edward F. Shea imposed
the statutory maximum sentence of 5 years imprisonment to be followed by 3 years of court
supervision upon release from prison. Roman Nose has a lengthy criminal history.

By Indictment dated July 12, 2011, Roman Nose was charged with a Crime on an Indian
Reservation; that is, Assault Resulting in Substantial Bodily Injury. A jury trial commenced on
May 29, 2012, and the evidence showed that in May, 2011, Yakama Nation tribal police officers
responded to a call of possible child abuse. The officers arrived at the residence and later
observed a toddler who had suffered multiple injuries. The officers observed that the child
suffered approximately 15-20 1-inch long bruises. Additional injuries were observed on the
child’s legs. Detectives with the Yakama Nation Tribal Police Department and the Federal
Bureau of Investigation immediately launched an investigation. The law enforcement officers
learned that Roman Nose had repeatedly struck the toddler with numerous objects because the
child had experienced difficulties with potty training. On May 31, 2012, the jury found Roman
Nose guilty as charged.

Michael C. Ormsby said, “The United States Attorney’s Office, the Yakama Nation
Tribal Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are committed to protecting
children who suffer abuse at the hands of adults. We will investigate and prosecute such
offenses and seek the maximum penalty upon conviction.”

This investigation was conducted by the Yakama Nation Tribal Police Department and
the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This case was prosecuted by Tom Hanlon an Assistant
United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington.