United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a man residing at the Winner Work Release Program in Winner, South Dakota, has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Criminal Trespass.
Steven Nichols, age 44, was indicted on Jan. 21, 2015. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on Jan. 26, 2015, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 1 year in custody and/or a $100,000 fine, 1 year of supervised release, and $25 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that on or about Jan. 16, 2015, Nichols, a non-Indian, knowingly committed the public offense of Entering or Refusing to Leave Property After Notice. He entered the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation, knowing he was not privileged to do so.
The charge is merely an accusation and Nichols is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tim Maher is prosecuting the case.
Nichols was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
