Pine Ridge man sentenced for role in murder near Old Sundance Grounds

PINE RIDGE, S.D. - A 32-year-old Pine Ridge man has been sentenced to ten years in federal prison for his role in a murder near the Old Sundance Grounds in Pine Ridge. Charles Brings Plenty was convicted of accessory after the fact in relation to the death of CJ Grass Jr.

On Apr. 21, 2023, Brings Plenty and a juvenile codefendant , both intoxicated, picked up Grass from the East Ridge housing area in Pine Ridge and drove to a fairly isolated area near the Old Sundance Grounds. During the drive, the death of a relative that Brings Plenty and the juvenile codefendant shared was brought up. Brings Plenty got out of the car and began questioning the victim. The juvenile codefendant then used the vehicle to assault Grass and further attacked him with a baseball bat. Brings Plenty helped the juvenile codefendant and then left Grass, who was reported missing by his family around two weeks later.

In July of 2023, skeletal remains were discovered north of the Old Sundance Grounds. DNA testing confirmed the remains were that of Grass. A federal grand jury indicted Brings Plenty on charges of second-degree murder and false statement in August of 2023. He pleaded guilty to accessory after the fact on Apr. 3, 2024.