United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Mission, South Dakota, woman has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Child Abuse.
Stephanie Luxon, age 23, was indicted by a federal grand jury on Jan. 14, 2015. She appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on Jan. 29, 2015, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is 15 years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that in August 2014, in Todd County, Luxon abused, exposed, tortured, tormented, and cruelly punished a child under the age of seven years old.
The charge is merely an accusation and Luxon is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Nebraska State Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tim Maher is prosecuting the case.
Luxon was released on bond pending trial. Trial has been set for April 7, 2015.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
