Plummer man sentenced to 15-month prison term for breaking cousin's jaw

Desmond J. Seyler, 26, Plummer, was sentenced Tuesday to 15 months in prison for assault resulting in serious bodily injury, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.

Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill also ordered Seyler to serve three years of supervised release and to pay $20,008.27 in restitution. Seyler pleaded guilty on Aug. 12, 2014.

According to the plea agreement, Seyler admitted that he fractured his cousin's jaw when he hit her in the face. Seyler was intoxicated at the time he committed the crime.

His case was prosecuted in federal court because the offense happened on the Coeur d'Alene Indian Reservation and both Seyler and his victim are members of federally recognized tribes.

During sentencing, Judge Winmill recognized the defendant's efforts in engaging in treatment and embracing sobriety. The case was investigated by the Coeur d'Alene Tribal Police and the FBI.

Seyler has been booked into the Kootenai County jail 16 times since 2007, including for battery, public drunkenness, driving while suspended, disturbing the peace, failure to appear and obstructing an officer.