On December 1, 2025, Darryl D. Smith, a 53-year-old former resident of Keshena, was sentenced to 40 months in prison for assault resulting in serious bodily injury on the Menominee Indian Reservation. The sentence was handed down by Senior United States District Judge William C. Griesbach after Smith pleaded guilty to the charge. Upon completion of his prison term, Smith will also serve 36 months of supervised release.
Court documents indicate that Smith, his former girlfriend, and her children were staying at a shelter on the reservation when an argument between Smith and his former girlfriend escalated. During the incident, Smith punched the woman in the nose, causing fractures and displacement of her nasal bones as well as significant pain. She received medical treatment for her injuries.
During sentencing, Judge Griesbach referenced Smith’s extensive criminal history and highlighted the seriousness of this offense. He noted that Smith had prior convictions in both Wisconsin and Menominee Tribal Court for violent acts against others, with alcohol abuse playing a role in most cases. Judge Griesbach stated that the offense was “impulsive” yet “horrible,” drawing attention to the pain caused by Smith’s actions. He emphasized the need to protect the public from further harm and underscored that violence would not be tolerated or go unpunished: “Judge Griesbach described the offense as ‘impulsive’ yet ‘horrible,’ and referred to the amount of pain the defendant caused. Judge Griesbach noted the need to protect the public from the defendant and to send a message to others that violence will not be tolerated and will result in punishment.”
The investigation was conducted by Menominee Tribal Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Maier prosecuted the case in U.S. District Court in Green Bay.
