A member of the Pearl River Community on the Choctaw Indian Reservation has pleaded guilty to assault resulting in serious bodily injury. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Baxter Kruger for the Southern District of Mississippi and Gabriel Billie, Director of Choctaw Public Safety for the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians.
Court documents state that Amery Ketcher, 30, stabbed another tribal member with a knife, causing significant injuries. A federal grand jury indicted Ketcher on this charge in March 2025. Ketcher entered a guilty plea and is set for sentencing on May 20, 2026. The maximum sentence for this offense is ten years in prison. Sentencing will be determined by a federal district judge after reviewing the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other legal factors.
U.S. Attorney Baxter Kruger acknowledged the investigative efforts of the Choctaw Police Department of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians. The prosecution team included Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin J. Payne and Brian K. Burns, as well as Special Assistant United States Attorney Kalleigh McCoy.
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