Colville man sentenced in federal court for domestic violence charges

Stephen Seymour’s girlfriend reportedly had a broken nose, bruising on her face and multiple cuts when police arrested him.

Seymour, a 20-year-old enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, was sentenced Wednesday to five years in federal prison and three more under supervision, according to a United States Department of Justice news release.

Seymour pleaded guilty to assault resulting in substantial bodily injury to an intimate partner in Indian Country in July.

Seymour repeatedly assaulted his girlfriend over a three-day period by striking, punching and choking her, according to the release. During the assault, Seymour had a firearm and knife, the release said.

At one point, the victim attempted to escape with their child, according to the release. She made it to the other side of the street before he tackled and choked her. Then he “dragged her back inside the house,” the release said.

Police arrived and arrested Seymour after a relative requested a welfare check, according to the release.

“This sentence reflects how serious the crime of domestic violence is,” said William Hyslop, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington.

The decision showed the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Colville Tribal Police Department are “committed to investigating and prosecuting violent crimes against Native American Women,” Hyslop said.

This case was investigated by the Spokane Resident Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Tribal Law Enforcement Department of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation Police.

This case was prosecuted by Richard R. Barker, Assistant United States Attorney, and Michael L. Vander Giessen, Special Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington.