Red Lake Man Sentenced for Assaulting Someone with Scalding Water

A 42-year-old Red Lake man was sentenced yesterday in federal court for assaulting someone by pouring scalding water and food on them. In Fergus Falls, United States District Court Judge John Tunheim sentenced Ronald Dean Oakgrove to 60 months in prison and three years of supervised release on one count of assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Oakgrove was indicted on January 13, 2009, and pleaded guilty on April 13, 2009.

In his plea agreement, Oakgrove admitted that on Dec.15, 2008, he assaulted a victim and also admitted that he poured scalding water and food upon the victim’s head, neck, shoulders and arms. As a result of the assault, the victim suffered extreme physical pain.

According to a Federal Bureau of Investigation affidavit, on Dec. 15 Oakgrove grabbed a pot of boiling water, grease, and beef, and dumped it over the victim’s head. Oakgrove then left the residence saying, “I hope you die!”

The victim was treated for third-degree burn injuries to her head, shoulders, arms, and back. Oakgrove was arrested Dec. 16, 2008, by the Red Lake Police Department.

This case was the result of an investigation by the FBI and the Red Lake Police Department, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Clifford B. Wardlaw.

The federal government has primary law enforcement jurisdiction over the Red Lake Indian Reservation. About 25 percent of all violent crimes prosecuted by the Justice Department occur in Indian Country. In 2008, U.S. Attorney’s Offices prosecuted approximately 1,000 such cases, with assaults accounting for about two-thirds of them.

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