United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that Ta-Sunka-Hinz Thunder Hawk, age 18, of Blackfoot, South Dakota, appeared before U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange on July 23, 2013, and pled guilty to an Indictment that charged him with Abusive Sexual Contact With a Child.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is life imprisonment and a $250,000 fine, or both; and a period of supervised release of a least five years up to life. There is also a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund and restitution may also be ordered.
The conviction stems from an incident in March of 2013 when Thunder Hawk had sexual contact with a child under the age of 12 at a residence near Blackfoot.
The investigation was conducted by the Cheyenne River Tribal Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mikal Hanson prosecuted the case.
Thunder Hawk was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending sentencing which has been set for Oct. 14, 2013.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
