United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Pine Ridge, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Abusive Sexual Contact.
Edwin Grass, Sr., age 29, was indicted on Jan. 22, 2014. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on August 6, 2014, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is 2 years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, 1 year of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The charge relates to Grass knowingly engaging in sexual contact with a female on June 2, 2013, at Pine Ridge, without the woman’s permission.
The charge is merely an accusation and Grass 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.
Grass was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has been set for Oct. 14, 2014.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
