United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Manderson, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury on one count of Aggravated Sexual Abuse and two counts of Sexual Abuse of a Minor.
Thomas Rowland, age 22, was indicted on May 20, 2014. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on June 2, 2014, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is life in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, a lifetime of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The charges relate to Rowland engaging in sexual acts with a female child between March 1 and April 30, 2013.
The charges are merely accusations and Rowland is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Justice Services, and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn N. Rich is prosecuting the case.
Rowland was released on bond pending trial. A trial date has been set for August 5, 2014.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
